Special issue on computer-assisted craniofacial reconstruction and modeling

The reconstruction of facial soft tissue is an essential processing phase in the fields of forensics, anthropology as well as maxillofacial surgery. In the first two areas the working subject is a skull find of a deceased where the soft tissue needs to be reconstructed. In forensics, this work helps to identify skeletons from open cases of death. In anthropology, the comparison of facial features between modern and ancient human beings is the main focus of research. Finally, in the case of maxillofacial surgery, a face must be reconstructed after, for example, cancer surgery. The goals of forensics, anthropology and maxillofacial surgery differ substantially. However, the mathematical basis of computer-aided soft facial reconstruction is effectively the same.