2004 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 19-27
The authors experimentally attempted to identify a “faceprint” on a vehicle's airbag using a 2D/3D superimposition technique. An airbag model was designed as an imitation of the vehicle's expanded airbag. Latent face impressions were made from 8 subjects by hitting the face against the airbag model. The 2D “faceprint” images on the airbag model were visualized by the CA-VPB method. The 3D facial images of 8 subjects were obtained using a 3D physiognomic range finder (Fiore, NEC). To make the comparison between the 2D “faceprint” and the 3D facial images, a proprietary software (3D-Rugle 3, Medic Engineering) for 2D/ 3D superimposition was used, and a total of 64 superimpositions were assessed. The “faceprint” could be identified to some degree based on the comparison of positional relationships of anatomical landmarks and morphological characteristics between the 2D “faceprint” and the 3D facial images. Some landmarks on the 3D facial image did not correspond to those on the “faceprint” image even in the same person because the general facial image such as the facial photograph and 3D facial image is the projective image of the face whereas a “faceprint” image is nearly the expanded image of face. The results obtained suggested that it was difficult to decisively identify the “faceprint” with certainty. In a limited situation as in a vehicle, however, it was considered that this method might distinguish the “faceprint” of faces of the driver and passengers. In order to improve the reliability of personal identification using this method, additional criteria including numerical indices need to be established.
