Estimating Biological Characteristics With Virtual Laser Data1. Issue 3 (17th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mullins, Ryan A.; Albanese, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 63:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 815
• Page End: 823
• Publication Date: 2017-08-17
• Subjects: forensic science -- forensic anthropology -- forensic archeology -- laser scanners -- human identification -- sex and stature estimation -- FARO Focus3D -- FARO Freestyle3D -- virtual measurements -- three‐dimensional imaging; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13621
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

Abstract: Laser scanning technology is increasingly being used in forensic anthropological research to obtain virtual data for archival purposes and post hoc measurement collection. This research compared the measurement accuracy of two laser scanners—the FARO Focus 3D 330X and the FARO Freestyle 3D —against traditionally obtained (i.e., by hand) control data ( N = 454). Skeletal data were collected to address a novel question: the ability of laser scanning technology to produce measurements useful for biological characteristic estimation, such as sex and stature. Results indicate that both devices produced measurements very similar to control ( c . 3‐mm average absolute error), but also illuminate a tendency to under‐measure. Despite these findings, the virtual data produced sex and stature estimates that varied little from control‐produced estimates, signifying the usefulness of virtual data for preliminary biological identification when the skeletal elements are no longer available for physical analysis.