Forensic Facial Identification Research Articles

Design of a Multi-Vision System for a Three-Dimensional Mug Shot Model to Improve Forensic Facial Identification

Design of a Multi-Vision System for a Three-Dimensional Mug Shot Model to Improve Forensic Facial Identification

Forensic facial identification – reconstruction of facial geometry and shape from dental dimensions

Human identification has always remained as a main task of forensic anthropology and forensic science for various purposes. The purpose of human identification may vary from legal identity to disaster victim identification, from criminal identity to unidentified deceased identification. The condition, such as putrefaction, charring and mutilation of corpse always become an obstacle during the process of identification. Due to surviving nature of teeth, they may serve as evidence for identification in highly decomposed conditions. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 207 participants (93 males and 114 females) in the age range of 21 to 45 years with the aim of two-dimensional facial reconstruction. Dental casts, anthropometric facial measurements and facial photographs were obtained from the participants. Dental measurements were taken on the cast in the laboratory. Statistical analysis revealed a weak but statistically significant correlation between the dental and facial parameters. The geometrical faces and the shapes were reconstructed based on the dental dimensions. The reconstructed facial geometry and shapes were very similar to the true facial geometry and facial shapes of the individual. By improving identification of disaster victims and unidentified deceased, the results of the study can have considerable implications in forensic and medico-legal case-works.

The dimensions of ‘forensic biosecurity’ in genetic and facial contexts

This article seeks to examine the co-productions of security and emerging technologies in the two contexts of forensic genetics and forensic facial identification. These surfacing co-productions, deemed here as ‘forensic biosecurity’, are evolving rapidly in both theoretical and practical terms. Definitions and conceptualisations of security are contingent and multiple, impacting forensic biological techniques and innovations in both predictable and unpredictable ways. The military, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration, customs, border patrol, mass disasters, cold case reviews, health, defence, private security, and biometric applications are just a few of the many security environments where forensic biological techniques are applied. The continual development of variations in forensic genetics and facial identification renders a futher blurring of traditional evidence with that of intelligence. Drawing in particular from Joly’s (in: S. Hilgartner, C. Miller, and R. Hagendijk (eds) Science and democracy: Making knowledge and making power in the biosciences and beyond, Taylor and Francis, London, 2015) work on emerging technologies, forensic biosecurity is analysed from a science and technology studies (STS) perspective. An emerging technology in the initial stages is thought to be highly flexible with the potential impacts on society and criminal justice being possibly difficult to predict. Once the science and/or technology has become entrenched and mainstream, it may be difficult to change. The enthusiasm portrayed by law enforcement and security agencies regarding emerging technologies, shows that it is important to remain somewhat cautious about the proliferation of these techniques. While such science and technologies appear to be effective and innovative in the present, it is difficult to accurately forecast or predict the future consequences of such innovations.

Artificial Intelligence Aided Forensic Facial Identification via Craniofacial Anthropometric Measurements of Egyptian Adult Population in Sharkia Governorate

Artificial Intelligence Aided Forensic Facial Identification via Craniofacial Anthropometric Measurements of Egyptian Adult Population in Sharkia Governorate

Designing an “Other Race Effect” test for forensic facial identification experts using the performance of deep networks and untrained humans.

Designing an “Other Race Effect” test for forensic facial identification experts using the performance of deep networks and untrained humans.

How accurate is forensic facial identification of surgically altered faces?

ABSTRACT Surgical alterations of the face have been shown to be a defining factor in alterations of physical appearance. It is estimated that 5% of the population undergo corrective procedures of the jaws for aesthetic or health purposes. To date, however, practitioners have been lacking guidelines specifying the way facial identification should be conducted. The present study explores the effect of oral and maxillofacial surgeries on landmark-based algorithms when conducted on 3D imagery. The sample composed of 50 pre-op and post-op 3D face images of individuals who had undergone corrective surgeries was tested against a set of 500 faces from the general European population. An approach based on discrete points was employed while the number of landmarks was gradually reduced to minimize intra-person and maximize inter-person variance. The results showed that the presence of surgical modifications resulted in misclassifications based on the mid-face and lower face features, particularly upper lip protrusion and shape, lower lip protrusion, and chin protrusion. The optimal set of landmarks which avoided the surgically affected regions reached an accuracy of 92% at the rank of 1% and 98% at the rank of 5. Across all tested landmark configurations, males were consistently less prone to mismatches than females.

Towards facial recognition using likelihood ratio approach to facial landmark indices from images

We propose a novel approach aimed at facial comparison in forensic context. We employed an automatic approach to detect facial landmarks, and then selected independent facial indices extracted from a subset of these landmarks. As it is difficult to compare the morphometric indices due to pose variations, some statistically reliable method is required for face comparison. The present work demonstrates the use of likelihood ratios (LRs) to assess the grouping of facial images based on the morphometric indices, in a database of 40 persons, with 10 facial images each; in different poses, expressions, illumination and background. Using the criterion LR> 1, for correct grouping, and only considering indices that are not correlated, a true positive (TP) rate of 85% and false positive (FP) rate of 25% was obtained. We have also calculated the performance metrics for assessment of the validity and reliability of the likelihood ratio approach and the log likelihood ratio cost has been found to be 0.26. As compared to more abstract face identification methods, the proposed approach is relevant in forensic context, as it is based on interpretable morphometric features of faces. The likelihood ratio approach being a statistical approach is reliable as it leverages the variations due to pose variations in the face images, offers a good quality segregation of faces and hence is a promising technique for use in forensic facial identification.

Forensic Facial Recognition in the Current Context

Based on the analysis of the essence of forensic facial identification the article describes the framework of its methodological support considering the specifics of the research objects. The genesis of development of analysis methods for portrait images is briefly presented. Attention is paid to the features of the research objects with the advent of digital technologies and the use of software for work with images. Specific examples of forensic facial identification assigned in criminal and civil cases show the features of the research objects and the formation of new methodological approaches to the solution of both identification and diagnostic tasks.

Expert Competence in Forensic Facial Identification: Problem Areas

The article deals with some of the systems of special knowledge that form the basis of competence of an expert performing forensic facial identification. It is observed that the existing general methodological framework, particularly in the areas of anatomy, anthropology, and modern human imaging technologies is inadequate for the analysis of human features in specific forensic contexts. The author therefore argues for the need to develop specialized education courses that could be used in the training of forensic facial identification practitioners.

Case Study: 3D Application of the Anatomical Method of Forensic Facial Reconstruction

This article reports on techniques used in forensic facial identification with a 3D modeling software system to create a virtual sculpture. In this forensic case study, Free Form Modeling SensAble Technologies and a haptic feedback Phantom® Desktop™ were used to reconstruct the facial features of the deceased from her skull. It was previously C-T scanned and then imported as an STL file under which the work was done. The advantages of the haptic feedback device is that the forensic specialist is able to “feel” the surface of the skull, not only to provide a more accurate assessment of the individual -such as their ancestry, sex and age determination-but also to visualize the process of the Manchester method of forensic facial reconstruction step by step.

Perceptual expertise in forensic facial image comparison.

Forensic facial identification examiners are required to match the identity of faces in images that vary substantially, owing to changes in viewing conditions and in a person's appearance. These identifications affect the course and outcome of criminal investigations and convictions. Despite calls for research on sources of human error in forensic examination, existing scientific knowledge of face matching accuracy is based, almost exclusively, on people without formal training. Here, we administered three challenging face matching tests to a group of forensic examiners with many years' experience of comparing face images for law enforcement and government agencies. Examiners outperformed untrained participants and computer algorithms, thereby providing the first evidence that these examiners are experts at this task. Notably, computationally fusing responses of multiple experts produced near-perfect performance. Results also revealed qualitative differences between expert and non-expert performance. First, examiners' superiority was greatest at longer exposure durations, suggestive of more entailed comparison in forensic examiners. Second, experts were less impaired by image inversion than non-expert students, contrasting with face memory studies that show larger face inversion effects in high performers. We conclude that expertise in matching identity across unfamiliar face images is supported by processes that differ qualitatively from those supporting memory for individual faces.

Valentine, Tim and Davis, Josh P: Forensic Facial Identification: Theory and Practice of Identification from Eyewitnesses, Composites and CCTV

Valentine, Tim and Davis, Josh P: Forensic Facial Identification: Theory and Practice of Identification from Eyewitnesses, Composites and CCTV

Facial recognition and laser surface scan: a pilot study

Surface scanning of the face of a suspect is presented as a way to better match the facial features with those of a perpetrator from CCTV footage. We performed a simple pilot study where we obtained facial surface scans of volunteers and then in blind trials tried to match these scans with 2D photographs of the faces of the volunteers. Fifteen male volunteers were surface scanned using a Polhemus FastSCAN Cobra Handheld Laser Scanner. Three photographs were taken of each volunteer's face in full frontal, profile and from above at an angle of 45 degrees and also 45 degrees laterally. Via special software (MIMICS and Photoshop) the surface scans were matched with the photographs in blind trials. The matches were graded as: a good fit; possible fit; and no fit. All the surface scans and photos were matched correctly, although one surface scan could be matched with two angled photographs, meaning that the discriminatory value was 86.7%. We also tested the surface scanner in terms of reliability in establishing point measures on skulls, and compared with physical measurements performed by calipers. The variation was on average 1 mm for five cranial measures. We suggest how surface scanning might be applied in forensic facial identification.

An anatomical and photographic technique for forensic facial identification

The increase in the use of photographs on individual identification credentials such as driving licences, credit cards, security passes and passports has led, for the purpose of criminal activities, to the falsification of genuine documents bearing photographs of the perpetrating criminal. These photographs may be used as valuable physical evidence when compared with known photographs of a suspect as they form somewhat of a signature of the suspect that is left behind on the evidence. The comparison of ID photographs requires the cooperation of two predominantly visual disciplines; forensic photography and morphological anatomy. This paper describes a photographic technique which allows accurate anatomical measurement and tracing of facial features, which allows direct physical comparison of ID document images.

Superimposition and reconstruction in forensic facial identification: a survey

Forensic facial reconstruction is the reproduction of the lost or unknown facial features of an individual, for the purposes of recognition and identification. It is generally accepted that facial reconstruction can be divided into four categories: (1) replacing and repositioning damaged or distorted soft tissues onto a skull; (2) the use of photographic transparencies and drawings in an identikit-type system; (3) the technique of graphic, photographic or video superimposition; (4) plastic or three-dimensional reconstruction of a face over a skull, using modelling clay. This paper sets out to review work done on both superimposition and plastic reconstruction, however, the authors believe that only the latter category can correctly be termed facial reconstruction. The survey is divided according to work done through anthropological evaluation of the skull, clinical examination and dissection of the soft tissues, as well as methods of measuring soft tissue thicknesses using tissue puncture, ultrasound, cephalometric radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, a method of the combined use of ultrasound and radiography to collect a wider range of facial soft tissue depths and a method of producing skull and face profiles are outlined.