Who is this person? A comparison study of current three-dimensional facial approximation methods.

Facial approximation is a common tool utilised in forensic human identification. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies allow researchers to go beyond traditional clay models to now create virtual computed models of anatomical structures. The goal of this study was to compare the accuracy of available methods of facial approximation ranging from clay modelling to advanced computer facial approximation techniques.

The devil is in the details: a synthesis of psychology of facial perception and its applications in forensic facial reconstruction.

The successful identification of a forensic facial reconstruction relies upon many factors other than merely the accuracy of the reconstruction. The way in which the reconstructed head is presented can affect the perception of it, which in turn can affect the recognition rates leading to case resolution. A synthesis of relevant facial perception studies from the psychological literature is provided, followed by a short set of recommendations aimed at practitioners wishing to incorporate the best practice based on current science when presenting their work to the public.

Virtual forensic anthropology: Novel applications of anthropometry and technology in a child death case.

Full-body 3D virtual reconstructions were generated using 3D technology and anthropometry following the death of a young girl, allegedly from severe malnutrition as a result of abuse and neglect. Close range laser scanning, in conjunction with full colour digital texture photography, was used to document the child's condition shortly after death in order to demonstrate the number and pattern of injuries and to be able to demonstrate her condition forensically. Full-body digital reconstructions were undertaken to illustrate the extent of the malnutrition by comparing the processed post mortem scans with reconstructed images at normal weight for height and age.

The use of a 3-D laser scanner to document ephemeral evidence at crime scenes and postmortem examinations.

Proper documentation of physical evidence at both crimes scenes and postmortem examination is crucial for downstream analysis, interpretation, and presentation in court. Ephemeral or transient evidence poses particular challenges to investigators, as its very nature renders it difficult or impossible to seize and maintain in its original physical state. The use of a hand-held three-dimensional (3-D) laser scanner is proposed to capture and document such evidence, both in the field and at autopsy.

Virtual determination of sex: metric and nonmetric traits of the adult pelvis from 3D computed tomography models.

Examination of the adult os coxae and sacrum is one of the most common methods of sex estimation from bone. Medical imaging, such as computed tomography (CT), provides the opportunity for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the skeleton from clinical scans of known individuals in situ. In this study, a randomly selected subset of abdominopelvic CT-derived models were used to evaluate simple, repeatable metric methods of sex estimation based on a combination of obstetric measurements and the traditionally nonmetric Phenice-derived traits.