title: MEPROCS framework for Craniofacial Superimposition: Validation study.
abstract: Craniofacial Superimposition (CFS) involves the process of overlaying a skull with a number of ante-mortem images of an individual and the analysis of their morphological correspondence. The lack of unified working protocols and the absence of commonly accepted standards, led to contradictory consensus regarding its reliability. One of the more important aims of 'New Methodologies and Protocols of Forensic Identification by Craniofacial Superimposition (MEPROCS)' project was to propose a common framework for CFS, what can be considered the first international standard in the field. The framework aimed to serve as a roadmap for avoiding particular assumptions that could bias the process. At the same time, it provides some empirical support to certain practices, technological means, and morphological criteria expected to facilitate the application of the CFS task and to improve its reliability. In order to confirm the utility and potential benefits of the framework use, there is a need to empirically evaluate it in CFS identification scenarios as close as possible to the reality. Thus, the purpose of this study is to validate the CFS framework developed. For that aim 12 participants were asked to report about a variable number of CFS following all the recommendations of the framework. The results are analysed and discussed according to the framework understanding and fulfilment, the participants' performance, and the correlation between expected decisions and those given by the participants. In view of the quantitative results and qualitative examination criteria we can conclude that those who follow the MEPROCS recommendations improve their performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: Oscar.ibanez@decsai.ugr.es.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.affiliation: Forensic Sciences Centre (CENCIFOR), Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.affiliation: Forensic Sciences Centre (CENCIFOR), Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Navega
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Soft Computing, Mieres, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campomanes-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Antropología e Odontologia Forense, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jankauskas
authors.affiliation: Physical Anthropology Laboratory, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Huete
authors.affiliation: Physical Anthropology Laboratory, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hardiman
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Police Science, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Paleoradiology and Allied Sciences, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veselovskaya
authors.affiliation: Public Ministry, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Humpire
authors.affiliation: Crime Scene Investigation Section, Forensic Laboratory, Portuguese Criminal Police, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Antropología e Odontologia Forense, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Collini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Antropología e Odontologia Forense, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzarelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Antropología e Odontologia Forense, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gibelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damas
mesh_terms: D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010781:Photography; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012984:Software
keywords: Craniofacial Superimposition; Craniofacial identification; Forensic anthropology; MEPROCS