Using Computational Intelligence to automate Craniofacial Superimposition for Skeleton-based Human Identification
Oscar Cordon
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09 Jul 2017
Oscar Cordon, University of Granada, Spain
Abstract: Craniofacial superimposition is a skeleton-based, forensic identification technique that can provide evidence to support that some human skeletal remains belong or not to a missing person. The process aims to overlay a skull with some ante-mortem images of a candidate in order to determine if they correspond to the same person. Although craniofacial superimposition has been in use for over a century, there is not a common methodology accepted worldwide. Instead, each forensic anthropologist applies a specific approach considering her expert knowledge and the available technologies. Hence, there is a strong interest in designing systematic and automatic methods to support the forensic anthropologist to apply craniofacial superimposition, avoiding the use of subjective, error-prone, and time- consuming manual procedures. The use of computational intelligence is a natural way to achieve this aim. In particular, evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy sets can properly be used to automate the procedure while handling the underlying uncertainty. This talk is devoted to present an intelligent system for craniofacial identification developed in collaboration with the University of Granada�s Physical Anthropology Lab within a ten year long research project. Our system is composed of a three-stage procedure involving the automatic reconstruction of 3D models of human skulls using evolutionary algorithms and image registration methods, the obtaining of 3D skull model � 2D face photograph overlays based on evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy sets, and the determination of a degree of support for the assertion that that the skull and the ante-mortem image belong to the same person by a decision support system based on fuzzy aggregations and computer vision techniques. The resulting system is protected by an international patent and is currently under commercialization in Mexico. The results obtained in several real-world cases solved by the Physical Anthropology Lab in cooperation with the Spanish Scientific Police will be reported.
Abstract: Craniofacial superimposition is a skeleton-based, forensic identification technique that can provide evidence to support that some human skeletal remains belong or not to a missing person. The process aims to overlay a skull with some ante-mortem images of a candidate in order to determine if they correspond to the same person. Although craniofacial superimposition has been in use for over a century, there is not a common methodology accepted worldwide. Instead, each forensic anthropologist applies a specific approach considering her expert knowledge and the available technologies. Hence, there is a strong interest in designing systematic and automatic methods to support the forensic anthropologist to apply craniofacial superimposition, avoiding the use of subjective, error-prone, and time- consuming manual procedures. The use of computational intelligence is a natural way to achieve this aim. In particular, evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy sets can properly be used to automate the procedure while handling the underlying uncertainty. This talk is devoted to present an intelligent system for craniofacial identification developed in collaboration with the University of Granada�s Physical Anthropology Lab within a ten year long research project. Our system is composed of a three-stage procedure involving the automatic reconstruction of 3D models of human skulls using evolutionary algorithms and image registration methods, the obtaining of 3D skull model � 2D face photograph overlays based on evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy sets, and the determination of a degree of support for the assertion that that the skull and the ante-mortem image belong to the same person by a decision support system based on fuzzy aggregations and computer vision techniques. The resulting system is protected by an international patent and is currently under commercialization in Mexico. The results obtained in several real-world cases solved by the Physical Anthropology Lab in cooperation with the Spanish Scientific Police will be reported.
