The specificity and reproducibility of general Schallamach pattern on heel part of rubber outsole.

The Schallamach pattern is an acquired characteristic that is sometimes observed in crime scenes. However, the detailed pattern is not always visible, although its general pattern is still recognizable. To determine the discrimination power (DP) of the general Schallamach pattern (GSP), 55 outsoles worn by 33 volunteers were chosen for the experiment.

Determining Shoe Length from Partial Shoeprints.

The length of a shoe has significant value in reflecting characteristics of the owner, and thereby, it can help in tracking suspects in criminal cases. However, the shoeprints left at a crime scene are often incomplete, resulting in difficulties in assessing shoe length. To find a way to estimate the shoe length from a partial shoeprint, 109 shoes with different sizes and general patterns were collected, and their prints were lifted using magnetic powder.

The Impact of Fatigue on Decision-Making in the Footwear Examination: Evidence from Questionnaires and Eye-Tracking Test.

To assess the influence of fatigue on decision-making and performance in footwear examination, questionnaires and eye-tracking techniques are employed. We ask 23 volunteers to wear shoes of four different outsole patterns and obtained 50 image pairs of questioned and known impressions under controlled conditions. Among which, 10 image sets were "repeated" as benchmarks by being horizontally flipped.

Foreign object held in recessed areas of shoe outsole as an acquired characteristic in footwear examination: A preliminary study.

Foreign objects as acquired characteristics in footwear examination have a great value in declaring a proposed identification. However, they do not have the same significance in excluding any footwear because they may disappear for many reasons as time passes by. The aim of this study was to establish the value of foreign object held (FOH) in the recessed area of the outsole, based on its reproducibility and specificity.

Reproducibility of Artificial Cut on Heel Area of Rubber Outsole.

Randomly acquired characteristics (RAC) are seldom used for exclusion in footwear examinations because they can disappear owing to wear. To help examiners explain discrepancies in RAC, this study investigated the reproducibility of cuts. One cut was made on the heel area of each shoe outsole and then measured.