著者

森好 浩行 三好 美紀 日野 大樹 中山 英樹 森川 俊雄 中木 真一 糸原 幸次

出版者

日本法科学技術学会

雑誌

日本法科学技術学会誌 (ISSN:18801323)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.14, no.2, pp.61-70, 2009 (Released:2009-08-25)

参考文献数

19

被引用文献数

6 7

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Facial image identification has become important in forensic science because surveillance cameras are popularly used as silent witnesses at potential crime scenes. In general, three methods are used for facial image identification: morphological comparison of facial features, facial image anthropometry and face-to-face superimposition. The most commonly employed method in actual casework is morphological comparison based on the morphological classification of facial components such as facial types, eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips and ears. However, classification for ear morphology has not been developed, except for the ear lobe. The human ear has various anatomical parts, including the helix, antihelix, tragus, antitragus, scaphoid fossa, and ear lobe. The present study was designed to develop a new classification system for the ear.   Ear images obtained from 164 Japanese adult males (n=94, age range: 24-60) and females (n=70, age range: 20-54) were used for establishing the morphological classification. In general, the features of the ear are very easily influenced by camera angle, which usually make it difficult to compare facial images taken with surveillance cameras to mug shots in actual casework. In our previous study, however, it was suggested that some components of the ear are little affected by camera angles if the scaphoid fossa could be found on the image even though the external acoustic meatus could not be found. Therefore, the morphological characteristics of some components such as the antihelix, tragus, antitragus, scaphoid fossa, and ear lobe were observed in the ear images from all persons, and morphological classification items for those components were established. All data classified according to these items were analyzed to obtain their frequency distribution in each component and to clarify the correlation between morphological characteristics. The results revealed that some morphological characteristics in each component were significantly correlated.   The present classification system for ear morphology would be useful for facial image identification.

著者

森好 浩行 三好 美紀 日野 大樹 中山 英樹 森川 俊雄 中木 真一 糸原 幸次

出版者

日本法科学技術学会

雑誌

日本法科学技術学会誌 (ISSN:18801323)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.12, no.1, pp.27-34, 2007 (Released:2007-06-27)

参考文献数

17

被引用文献数

8 8 1

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Images of the ear are highly valuable for facial photographic identification because the ear has a lot of morphological features, such as the helix, ear lobe, antihelix, scapha, antitragus, tragus, and so on. However, the morphology of ear components changes so easily depending on the camera angle that it is usually difficult to identify people based on images of their ears from surveillance cameras and mug shots.   In this study, the correlation between the morphology of ear components and camera angles was investigated in order to identify people based on ear images taken from different camera angles. The samples were ear images of 56 persons taken at 27 different camera angles for each person. The morphologies of the ear components were compared among the angles and among the subjects. This revealed the morphological changes in the helix, ear lobe, antihelix, and tragus according to the camera angle.   It was found that the morphology was consistent between ear images taken at different camera angles if the compared images satisfied two conditions: the scapha must be clearly observed, and the external acoustic meatus must not be visible. If these conditions are met, it is possible to identify a person by images of his or her ear regardless of the camera angles.