Forensic identification by computer-aided craniofacial superimposition: a survey SERGIO DAMAS, OSCAR CORDÓN and OSCAR IBÁÑEZ European Centre for Soft Computing and

Craniofacial superimposition is a forensic process where a photograph of a missing person is com-pared with a skull found to determine its identity. After one century of development, craniofacial superimposition has become an interdisciplinary research field where computer sciences have ac-quired a key role as a complement of forensic sciences. Moreover, the availability of new digital equipment (as computers and 3D scanners) has resulted in a significant advance in the applicabi-lity of this forensic identification technique. However, technology has also led to some confusion in forensic environments concerning the definition of a “computer-aided ” system and an “automatic” method. The purpose of this contribution is twofold. On the one hand, we aim to clearly delimit the different stages involved in the craniofacial superimposition process. Besides, we aim to clarify the role played by computers in the methods considered in order to avoid the said confusion. In order to accomplish these objectives, an up-to-date review of the recent works is presented along with a discussion of advantages and drawbacks of the existing approaches, with an emphasis on the automatic ones. Upcoming case studies will be easily categorized by identifying which stage is tackled and which kind of computer-aided approach is chosen to face the identification problem