A novel semi-automated approach for forensic facial reconstruction in Sri Lanka

Introduction: It should be regarded that being buried in accordance with one’s religion and traditions in a grave that bears one's own name a human right. Thus with regard to unrecognizable corpses its identification is of high importance and when all other identification mechanisms fail, the process of forensic facial reconstruction has to be adopted.

Objective: Introduction of a more efficient, semi-automated 3D Computer graphics based technique of facial reconstruction was the aim of this study.

Method: The process involved capturing a 3D model of the skull and digitally sculpting facial muscles on the model with the aid of forensic facial markers. Different facial components were added to the completed face model in order to improve the identification process. Separate analyses were also conducted for both facial tissue thickness and facial component variations in Sri Lankans to achieve an improved result. Females of the age category 20-30 of average weight were used in this study.

Results: The facial tissue thickness analysis conducted by the research team confirmed that tissue thickness data of other countries cannot be adopted for facial reconstruction in the local context and that Sri Lankans have a different facial soft tissue thickness mainly in the following areas; Gonion, Sub M2, Supra M2 and the area beneath the chin. The facial feature analysis discovered the mean values of the nasal and eye indexes which were then modeled in to the final output. The outputs were thoroughly evaluated using a number of techniques.

Conclusion: Based on the evaluation results and the cost analysis, adopting the suggested novel application and establishing the first unit for facial reconstruction in Sri Lanka to uphold the rights of deceased and their relatives would be highly recommended.

Galle Medical Journal, Vol 18: No. 1, March 2013:Page 16-25

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/gmj.v18i1.5517