Forensic Facial Reconstruction - Essay Example

If nature had only one fixed standard for the proportions of the various parts, then the faces of all men would resemble each other to such a degree that it would be impossible to distinguish one from another; but she has varied the five parts of the face in such a way that although she has made an almost universal standard as to their size, she has not observed it in the various conditions to such a degree as to prevent one from being clearly distinguished from another... Leonardo Da Vinci Forensic facial reconstruction is the process of recreating a face on the basis of skeletal remains and requires help from anthropology, anatomy and osteology. It is a highly encouraging method from view points of history, archaeology and other connected subjects; but has remained controversial for sometime now. Despite controversy, it has proved successful in certain cases and with further advancement, might be able to rule out controversies. It also touches media, arts and imaging. This combination of art, visuals and science has an immense future. It can also be one of the last resorts where all other evidences are missing in criminal cases. Mass graves, crime investigation, especially in USA are being helped by this innovative method. Sculptors have to find the depth of skin, and will be able to work on aspects that render most character to the face followed by muscle structure. Undoubtedly there will be some marginal structural flaws and accuracy limitations that are unavoidable considering the existing difficulties. Applying muscle and skin to the bone needs computer tomography. Old system consists of image processing unit for skull morphometry and imaging unit for compositing facial components on skull images. Interlaying of soft and hard tissues, accuracy of reconstruction etc. still remains difficult. It is argued that skull provides a detailed map to the face and it has led to Forensic Anthropology. “Physical anthropologists have long been called upon to apply their knowledge of human skeletal biology to practical problems of concern to the medicolegal system. The discipline of forensic anthropology arose out of this need to determine and assess the characteristics of an individual” writes Mehemt Yasar Iscan (2005). It has been difficult to achieve authenticity and standardisation in face of acute opposition about inconsistency. “Despite varied attempts to achieve standardization in traditional techniques and the promotion of some newly developed ones, facial reconstruction remains on the threshold between art and science. It is the point at which science ends and the medical illustrator takes over that has led to most reservations over this branch of forensic anthropology” say Tyrell et al (1997). Even though computer graphics had been able to render multidimensional help, the original clay modelling is still considered to be the most authentic and useful. “The former look of a face can be approximated by predicting and modelling the layers of tissue on the skull. This work is as of today carried out solely by physical sculpting with clay, where experienced artists invest up to hundreds of hours to craft a reconstructed face model. Remarkably, one of the most popular tissue reconstruction methods bears many resemblances with surface fitting techniques used in computer graphics, thus suggesting the possibility of a transfer of the manual approach to the computer.” Kahler (2003). Laser technology and more and more information about skull and facial intricacies have been helping the reconstruction by incessantly improving it. According to Venezis (1998), “Skull and facial data from living subjects is acquired using an optical laser scanning system…The computer image may then be exported to enable the production of a solid model, employing, for example, stereolithography. The image can also be modified within an identikit system which allows the addition of facial features as appropriate”. With the introduction of computer imaging system where image processor creates framework onto digitized skull image that enables provisional reconstruction with electronic painting device which helps multiple reproductions. “The present system facilitates a rather objective and rapid approach and allows us easily to generate a range of possible faces. The computer-aided facial reconstruction will lead to an increase in chances of positive identification in practical cases” Miyasaka (1994). The 3 dimensional plastic faces have been revolutionised and expose more possibilities in the field to reach perfection. “In recent years, the technique has been revived and applied to forensic science cases. The morphometric method of forensic facial reconstruction rests heavily on the use of facial soft tissue depth measurements” El Mehellavi (2000). To state the consistency, we can mention boy King Tutankhamen’s facial reconstruction by Egyptian, American and French teams and they were not very dissimilar. French Egyptian American “The results of the three teams are identical or very similar in the basic shape of the face, the size, shape, and setting of the eyes, and the proportions of the skull. The primary differences are in the shape of the end of the nose and ears…This is confirmation that the science and techniques of forensic reconstruction can be a useful tool for reconstructing the likenesses of people who lived long ago” http://guardians.net/hawass/Press_Release_05-05_Tut_Reconstruction.htm There are many intricate matters connected with this field of opportunities because it needs statistical data that brings together many disciplines. “Measurements were taken from lateral radiographs produced in an orthodontic practice. Statistical analysis indicates that age, sex, and to some extent, dental occlusion pattern are factors that should be taken into account when attempting facial feature reconstructions” according to Dumont (1986). Then again, every measurement varies according to gender, ethnicity, region, age and atmosphere. On the same subject Wilkinson (2002) says: “The mid-philtral, upper lip border and lower lip border points showed consistently larger tissue depths in the males than the females, and the zygomatic attachment showed consistently larger tissue depths in the females than the males. The males showed a general increase in tissue depth with an increase in age at all the mid-line facial points and the cheek points. The females showed increased tissue depth with age at all the points except the infra-orbital, lateral orbital, mid-zygomatic arch and mid-mandibular points”. Very few can deny the usefulness of the field that gratifies anthropology, sociology, history, art, criminology and archaeology. “These techniques share the common principle of relating the skeletal structure to the overlying soft tissue…The artistic and cultural reconstruction techniques have been used for recognition in forensic identification investigations worldwide and these procedures are usually employed when the police do not have a suspect for identification,” Wilkinson (2007, p.39). Mrs. Ghetty, the so-called Anglo-Saxon Princess buried in Gloucestershire showed a face as result of state-of-the-art forensic techniques1. Queen Nefertiti’s face was reconstructed almost to perfection. CT based forensic reconstruction almost brought Ancient Egypt to life again. No doubt it is a developing artistic science and need time to arrive at perfection. But it is definitely not an area that should be thoughtlessly discarded. It has helped criminal and legal procedures enormously. Also it is a field of immense opportunity and excitement. “Three-dimensional (3D) cranio-facial reconstruction can be useful in the identification of an unknown body. The progress in computer science and the improvement of medical imaging technologies during recent years had significant repercussions on this domain” says De Greef (2005). Working from a plaster cast, rebuilding each of the facial tissues, including muscles, fat and skin with modelling clay to watch an unknown, but similar to the dead face coming into a visible form is one of the most exulting moments to see the dead person almost claiming an identity. It has successfully applied facial aging. This field should be persistently developed with all possible help, controversy or no controversy because face mapping has immense possibilities. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. De Greef S. and Willems G., ‘Three-dimensional cranio-facial reconstruction in forensic identification: latest progress and new tendencies in the 21st century,’ PubMed, 2005 Jan;50(1):12-7. 2. Dumont, E.R., ‘Mid-facial tissue depths of white children: an aid in facial feature reconstruction,’ PubMed, 1986 Oct;31(4):1463-9. 3. Iscan, Mehmet Yaar, ‘Rise of Forensic Anthropology’, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Volume 31, 2005, Issue S9 , Pages 203 – 229. 4. Kahler, Kolja, Jorg Haber and Hans-Peter, ’Reanimating the dead: Reconstruction of Expressive Faces from skull data’, ACM Transactions on Graphics, 2003, Volume 22 ,  Issue 3. 5. Miyasaka S, M. Yoshino, K. Imanymi and S. Seta, ‘The komputer-aided facia reconstruction system’, Forensic Science International, 1995, pages 155-165. 6. Mehellavi, Inas and Soliman, Eman, ‘Ultrasonic assessment of facial soft issue thicknesses in adult Egyptians,’ Forensic Science International, 2001, Volume 117, Issue 1, Pages 99-107. 7. Tyrrell, A.J., MP Evison, AT Chamberlain and MA Green (1997), Forensic Three Dimensional Facial Reconstruction: Historical Review and Contemporary Developments, PubMed, 1997 Jul; 42(4):653-61. 8. Vanezis, P., M. Vanezis, G. McCombe and T. Niblett, ‘Facial reconstruction using 3-D computer Graphics’, Forensic Science International, 2007, Vol. 167, No.2- 9. Wilkinson, C.M., ‘In vivo facial tissue depth measurements for white British children’, PubMed, 2002 May; 47(3):459-65. 10. Wilkinson, Caroline (2007), Forensic Facial Reconstruction, Cambridge University Press ONLINE SOURCE: 1. http://guardians.net/hawass/Press_Release_05-05_Tut_Reconstruction.htm 2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3556716.stm Read More