3D Face Reconstruction: the Road to Forensics
Simone Maurizio La Cava Giulia Orrù Martin Drahansky Gian Luca Marcialis Fabio Roli
3D face reconstruction algorithms from images and videos are applied to many
fields, from plastic surgery to the entertainment sector, thanks to their
advantageous features. However, when looking at forensic applications, 3D face
reconstruction must observe strict requirements that still make its possible
role in bringing evidence to a lawsuit unclear. An extensive investigation of
the constraints, potential, and limits of its application in forensics is still
missing. Shedding some light on this matter is the goal of the present survey,
which starts by clarifying the relation between forensic applications and
biometrics, with a focus on face recognition. Therefore, it provides an
analysis of the achievements of 3D face reconstruction algorithms from
surveillance videos and mugshot images and discusses the current obstacles that
separate 3D face reconstruction from an active role in forensic applications.
Finally, it examines the underlying data sets, with their advantages and
limitations, while proposing alternatives that could substitute or complement
them.