A novel method for pair-matching using three-dimensional digital models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison

The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2016-09, Vol.130 (5), p.1315-1322
Main Authors: Karell, Mara A., Langstaff, Helen K., Halazonetis, Demetrios J., Minghetti, Caterina, Frelat, Mélanie, Kranioti, Elena F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Adult
Algorithms
Anthropology
Automation
Bones
Computer Simulation
Cultural heritage
Female
Forensic anthropology
Forensic Anthropology - methods
Forensic Medicine
Human remains
Humans
Humerus - diagnostic imaging
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Male
Medical Law
Medicine & Public Health
Methods
Morphology
Original
Original Article
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-dimensional models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison (MVC). The MVC method digitally compares the entire three-dimensional geometry of two bones at once to produce a single value to indicate their similarity. Two different versions of this method, one manual and the other automated, were created and then tested for how well they accurately pair-matched humeri. Each version was assessed using sensitivity and specificity. The manual mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific. The automated mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 95 % sensitive and 60 % specific. Our results indicate that the mesh-to-mesh value comparison method overall is a powerful new tool for accurately pair-matching commingled skeletal elements, although the automated version still needs improvement.
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-016-1334-3