Knowledge Center

	Best Practices
	Driver Services
	Research Center
	Standards and Technology
Courtesy Verification Program Current and Developing Standards Links to Standards Resources Partners in Standards Setting Standards-Accredited Developers XML
	Tools You Can Use
	Vehicle Services

My AAMVA Log In

If you are a member, please Log In or Register Now!

You are here: Home » Knowledge Center » Standards and Technology

Standards & Technology Overview

Defining Standards

A standard is a documented agreement containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.

In the United States, any organization wanting to have their document or documents defined as a standard must first seek accreditation from the American National Standards Institute. Only ANSI is authorized to approve any document as an American National Standard.

ANSI / ISO

AAMVA is a standards development organization (SDO) accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the use of the canvass method. As an SDO, AAMVA currently maintains the ANSI D20 standard in this way. ANSI D20 is the Data Dictionary for Traffic Record Systems. Please refer to the ANSI D20 page for updates to this standard.

AAMVA is also an active participant in another development group, the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS). Within INCITS, AAMVA is an active participant in the working group designated ANSI JTC1 / INCITS B10.8. This working group is designated as the ANSI Technical Advisory Group to an ISO effort to standardize international driver license documents.

AAMVA is an active participant in the development of an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for international driver license documents. AAMVA is advancing the interests of U.S. jurisdictions in the standards development process. The ISO working group responsible for this standard is designated ISO JTC1 / SC17 / WG10. Any questions regarding AAMVA's participation with ISO, please contact, Mike Calvin, Deputy CEO.

NASPO

The North American Security Products Organization is another of AAMVA's partners in providing security documentation. As with AAMVA, NASPO is also an accredited standards organization sanctioned by ANSI. NASPO is responsible for publishing the Security Risk Management Requirements Definition Document. The standard identifies and defines risks that a security product producer must manage and the degree to which those risks must be managed to be certified by NASPO.

Defining Specifications

A specification is a standard but without the approval of the American National Standards Institute. AAMVA has produced numerous specifications over the past several years. One specification that has the most notoriety is the AAMVA DL/ID specification. First publish it 2000, the AAMVA DL/ID specification has gone through two revisions. Once in 2003, and the most recent revision in 2005. AAMVA is also in the works in producing a new bar code specification for motor vehicle documents such as titles, registrations, motor carrier cab cards and safety inspection documents. The new specification is a collection of data elements found within a 2D bar code placed on these motor vehicle documents. This document is set to published by the Fall of 2005.

AAMVA DL/ID Guidance

The newly released 2005 AAMVA Personal Identification - AAMVA International Specification - DL/ID Card Design, Version 2.0, provides a uniform means to identify issuers and holders of driver license cards throughout North America.

Defining Biometrics

Biometric methods of identification work by measuring unique human characteristics such as facial recognition or finger printing as well as behavioral characteristics as a way to confirm identity. Biometrics has helped played a part in preventing identity theft over the past few years. In November 2001, The Executive Board of INCITS established the Technical Committee M1. The purpose of M1 is to ensure a high priority, focused, and comprehensive approach in the United States for the rapid development and approval of formal national and international generic biometric standards.