A novel method for pair-matching using three-dimensional digital models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison

TY - JOUR

T1 - A novel method for pair-matching using three-dimensional digital models of bone

T2 - mesh-to-mesh value comparison

AU - Karell, Mara A.

AU - Langstaff, Helen

AU - Halazonetis, Demetrios

AU - Minghetti, Caterina

AU - Frelat, Melanie

AU - Kranioti, Elena F.

PY - 2016/3/10

Y1 - 2016/3/10

N2 - The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-dimensional models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison (MVC). The MVC method digitally compares the entire three-dimensional geometry of two bones at once to produce a single value to indicate their similarity. Two different versions of this method, one manual and the other automated, were created and then tested for how well they accurately pair-matched humeri. Each version was assessed using sensitivity and specificity. The manual mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific. The automated mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 95 % sensitive and 60 % specific. Our results indicate that the mesh-to-mesh value comparison method overall is a powerful new tool for accurately pair-matching commingled skeletal elements, although the automated version still needs improvement.

AB - The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-dimensional models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison (MVC). The MVC method digitally compares the entire three-dimensional geometry of two bones at once to produce a single value to indicate their similarity. Two different versions of this method, one manual and the other automated, were created and then tested for how well they accurately pair-matched humeri. Each version was assessed using sensitivity and specificity. The manual mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific. The automated mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 95 % sensitive and 60 % specific. Our results indicate that the mesh-to-mesh value comparison method overall is a powerful new tool for accurately pair-matching commingled skeletal elements, although the automated version still needs improvement.

KW - Forensic anthropology

KW - Pair-matching

KW - Commingled remains

KW - 3D geometry

KW - 3D modeling

KW - Mesh-to-mesh value comparison

U2 - 10.1007/s00414-016-1334-3

DO - 10.1007/s00414-016-1334-3

M3 - Article

SN - 0937-9827

VL - 130

SP - 1315

EP - 1322

JO - International Journal of Legal Medicine

JF - International Journal of Legal Medicine

IS - 5

ER -