Computer-Aided Forensic Facial Comparison

by Martin Paul Evison (Editor), Richard W. Vorder Bruegge (Editor)

Overview

Countless facial images are generated everyday through digital and cell phone cameras, surveillance video systems, webcams, and traditional film and broadcast video. As a result, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have numerous opportunities to acquire and analyze images that depict persons of interest. Computer-Aided Forensic Facial Comparison is a comprehensive exploration of the scientific, technical, and statistical challenges facing researchers investigating courtroom identification from facial images.

Supported by considerable background material, research data, and prototypic statistical and applications software, this volume brings together contributions from anthropologists, computer scientists, forensic scientists, and statisticians. Topics discussed include:

• Face database collection in 3D
• Error and distinguishing power associated with craniofacial landmarks
• Statistical analysis of face shape variation
• Comparison of instrumentation
• Court admissibility issues
• Missing data
• Computer applications development

Based on the quantification and analysis of more than 3000 facial images, this seminal work lays the foundation for future forensic facial comparison, computer applications development, and research in face shape variation and analysis. Using experimental and real case data, it demonstrates the influence of illumination, image resolution, perspective, and pose angle on landmark visibility. Downloadable resources are included which contain the raw 3D landmark datasets for 3000 faces, additional datasets used in 2D analysis, and computer programs and spreadsheets used in analysis and in the development of prototypic applications software.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040080313
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/26/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	209
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Martin Evison is associate professor of anthropology, University of Toronto, director of the University‘s Forensic Science Program, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Forensic Science and Medicine. He has a Ph.D. in ancient DNA from the University of Sheffield, and from 1994 until 2005 he was the forensic anthropologist at Sheffield Medico Legal Centre, where he led a research group focusing on computational and molecular methods of human identification. He has undertaken case work on five continents in forensic archaeology and anthropology, facial identification, and contamination or innocent transfer of DNA. He has published in Journal of Forensic Sciences and Forensic Science Communications among other journals, and is currently leading a research project examining genetic factors underlying normal face shape variation. In September of 2010, Dr. Evison won a prize for best presentation in the Biometrics session at the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.

Dr. Richard W. Vorder Bruegge has worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 1995. His work involves analyzing film, video, and digital images that relate to crime and intelligence matters, as well as testifying in court. He has conducted thousands of forensic examinations in hundreds of cases. He has testified as an expert witness in federal and state courts across the United States, as well as internationally. An intrinsic part of his job is to conduct research in the field of forensic image analysis, including facial identification. He was chair of the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology (SWGIT) from 2000 to 2006 and was elected chair of the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) in 2009. In 2007, he was invited to brief the National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Future of Forensic Sciences on the discipline of forensic photographic comparisons.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Image Quality and Accuracy in Three 3D Scanners. Shape Variation in Anthropometric Landmarks in 3D. A Large Database Sample of 3D Facial Images and Measurements. Investigation of Anthropometric Landmarking in 2D. Effect of 3D Rotation on Landmark Visibility. Influence of Lens Distortion and Perspective Error. Estimation of Landmark Position Using an Active Shape Model. Generation of Values for Missing Data. Admissibility. Application Toolset. Problems and Prospects. Appendix A. Appendix B. Index.

Editorial Reviews

… throws light into dark niches and corners of the new science of forensic facial comparison. To my mind this book would stimulate further research in this field. This book should be read by all forensic scientists.

—Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Strengths of this book lie with the research results on 3D face
variation and the total size of the sample analyzed; the breadth of
different topics examined; and the supplemental data and software
features included with the volume. … A useful first look that draws on a large sample.
—Carl N. Stephan, Journal of Forensic Sciences

… throws light into dark niches and corners of the new science of forensic facial comparison. To my mind this book would stimulate further research in this field. This book should be read by all forensic scientists.

—Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Strengths of this book lie with the research results on 3D face
variation and the total size of the sample analyzed; the breadth of
different topics examined; and the supplemental data and software
features included with the volume. … A useful first look that draws on a large sample.
—Carl N. Stephan, Journal of Forensic Sciences

From the Publisher