A multi-modality computer-aided framework towards postmortem identification

A multi-modality framework for forensic soft-facial reconstruction based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is presented. CT is used to acquire a virtual representation of a skull find and MRI templates provide the desired soft tissue information to produce a facial likeness of a deceased individual. Two main strategies are described. The first is based on a regularized non-linear warping technique using radial basis functions known as thin-plate splines in 3D space. The second is an automatic segmentation scheme based on active contours, which will provide a facial template that can be morphed onto the CT of the skull find. These approaches are presented in the framework of a forensic workplace.