title: The identification of living persons on images: A literature review.
abstract: Personal identification in the forensic context commonly concerns unknown decedents. However, recently there has been an increase in cases which require identification of living persons, especially from surveillance systems. These cases bring about a relatively new challenge for forensic anthropologists and pathologists concerning the selection of the most suitable methodological approaches with regard to the limitations of the photographic representation of a given person for individualization and identity. Facial features are instinctively the primary focus for identification approaches. However, other body parts (e.g. hands), and body height and gait (on videos) have been considered in cases of personal identification. This review aims at summarizing the state-of-the-art concerning the identification of the living on images and videos, including a critical evaluation of the advantages and limitations of different methods. Recommendations are given in order to aid forensic practitioners who face cases of identification of living persons.
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomedicheper la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: daniele.gibelli@unimi.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gibelli
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätskinikums, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Obertová
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätskinikums, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritz-Timme
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätskinikums, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätskinikums, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arent
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätskinikums, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratnayake
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomedicheper la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomedicheper la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D010781:Photography; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Facial assessment; Forensic anthropology; Gait analysis; Height estimation; Living; Personal identification