title: A methodology for near-optimal computational superimposition of two-dimensional digital facial photographs and three-dimensional cranial surface meshes.
abstract: The authors present a methodology for human identification based on digital superimposition techniques. This methodology computes a fast, near optimal fit between a three-dimensional skull surface mesh and a two-dimensional digitized facial photograph. Since this is done digitally, (1) the photograph can be enhanced to reduce or eliminate motion blur, overexposure or underexposure, and out-of-focus distortions; (2) previous problems with skull/photograph scaling and alignment are minimized or eliminated; and (3) the photograph and skull can be numerically correlated. Two of several test cases produced from an implementation of this methodology are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fitzhorn
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charney
mesh_terms: D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010781:Photography; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*