Optical Surface Profilometry
Definition
Measurement of accessible surface relief to produce height information across an area, using an appropriate optical system and documented settings. It can support surface examination but does not directly see a buried serial number through intact metal or automatically validate a character interpretation.
Related terms
- Firearm Tracing
- An authorised enquiry using a firearm’s identity and available records to investigate its commercial or other documented history. Tracing differs from fired-evidence...
- Magnetic-Particle Serial-Number Examination
- A restoration approach using a magnetic field and particles to reveal relevant indications in suitable ferromagnetic material. It does not inherently remove...
- Partial Serial-Number Recovery
- A restoration outcome establishing only some characters or positions in an identifying mark. The report should preserve the distinction between supported, uncertain...
- Serial-Number Restoration
- Specialist examination intended to recover an obscured or removed identifying mark using methods suited to its material, marking process and condition. A...
- Subsurface Deformation Zone
- Material beneath and around a mechanically stamped mark whose structure has been altered by plastic deformation. Some alteration may survive removal of...