Facial Identification Subcommittee

Officers | Members | Standards | Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents | Research & Development Needs | Presentations

The Facial Identification Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to the image-based comparisons of human facial features. 

Officers

Lora Sims, Subcommittee Chair, Ideal Innovations, Inc.

Angela Yankowski, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Michigan State Police

Jane Wankmiller, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Michigan State Police 

Members

Standards

Tier 1: On the OSAC Registry

ASTM E3115-17 Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems (effective October 1, 2019).

ASTM E3148-18 Standard Guide for Postmortem Facial Image Capture (effective October 1, 2019).

ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis (effective February 14, 2019).

NOTE: to access the astm standards, visit the access to standards webpage.

Tier 2: Published by an SDO

• ASTM E3115-17 Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems.
• ASTM E3148-18 Standard Guide for Postmortem Facial Image Capture.
• ASTM E3149-18 Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis.

Tier 3: Sent to an SDO

• ASTM WK69795 Guide for Role Based Training in Facial Comparison.

Tier 4: Under Development

• Guidelines for Image Processing to Improve Automated Facial Recognition Search Performance.
• Effects of a Scanned Image for Facial Image Comparison.
• Extracting Facial Images from the "In the Wild" Imagery.
• Facial Stability of Facial Features of Adults (annex to the Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis).
• Facial Stability of Facial Features of Juveniles (annex to the Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis).
• Guide for Forensic Face Reporting and Note Taking.
• Guide for Investigative Lead Report and Note Taking.
• Facial Examination Conclusion Scale.
• Image Factors to Consider in Facial Comparison.
• Guide for Facial Comparison Awareness Training of Assessors.
• Guide for Facial Comparison Training of Reviewers to Competency.
• Guide for Facial Comparison Training of Examiners to Competency.
• Guide for Mentorship of Facial Comparison Trainees in Role Based Facial Comparison.
•  Guide for Proficiency Testing in Role Based Facial Comparison.
• Minimum Training Criteria for Usage of Facial Recognition Systems.
• Methods of Mark-up and Annotation for Face Presentation to Courts.
• Managing Head Coverings, Accessories, and Make-up (HCAM) for Booking Photographs.

Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents

The Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) has provided the opportunity for OSAC Subcommittees to identify baseline documents and reference materials that best reflect the current state of the practice within their respective disciplines. 

These documents contain practical information regarding these disciplines that can help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, other interested parties and the general public, to better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as they are currently practiced.

It is important to note that the identification of these documents in this venue does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST.  Only documents that are posted on the OSAC Registry constitute OSAC endorsement. All copyrights for these documents are reserved by their owners. Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee represent the consensus opinion of the subcommittee, not necessarily the position of the entire OSAC organization or NIST.

FISWG:

• FISWG FAQs
• FISWG Documents
• Capture and Equipment Assessment for FR Systems
• Facial Recognition Systems Guidelines
• Facial Recognition System Methods and Techniques
• Facial Recognition Systems DMV Use Case
• Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis
• Facial Recognition Systems Metadata Usage
• Facial Recognition Systems Bulk Data Transfer
• Guidelines for Facial Comparison Methods
• Image Processing to Improve Automated Facial Recognition Search Performance
• Physical Stability of Facial Components
• Recommendations for a Training Program in Facial Comparison
• Standard for Facial Identification and Facial Recognition Proficiency Testing Programs
• Understanding and Testing for Face Recognition Systems Operation Assurance

SWGDE:

• https://www.swgde.org/documents
• Best Practices for Photographic Comparisons for All Disciplines
• Image Processing Guidelines

SWGIT:

• https://www.swgit.org/documents
• Best Practices for Forensic Image Analysis
• Best Practices for Documenting Image Enhancement
• Issues Relating to Digital Image Compression and File Formats

ISO:

• ISO/IEC 19794-1:2011 Information Technology – Biometric Data Interchange Formats – Part 1: Framework
• ISO/IEC 19794-5:2011 Information Technology – Biometric Data Interchange Formats – Part 5: Face Image Data
• ISO/IEC TR 29794-5:2010 Information Technology – Biometric Sample Quality – Part 5: Face Image Data

ANSI/NIST:

• FACE Challenges
• Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) 2013
• ITL Standard
• NIST Face Recognition Evaluations & Challenges

OTHER:

• Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST-United Kingdom)
• Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS)
• ENFSI Facial Image Comparison Survey Results (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes)
• Standard Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence Examination
• 2013 Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for Digital Imaging Processes

Research & Development Needs

• See the Research & Development Needs identified by the Facial Identification subcommittee.

Presentations

• OSAC Facial Identification Subcommittee and FISWG Updates at the International Association for Identification (IAI) Educational Conference, August 2019.
• OSAC Facial Identification Subcommittee at the IAI Conference, August 2018.

In general, the development of standards and guidelines is transitioning from the Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) to the OSAC. Some SWGs will continue to operate to provide other resources within their discipline. The existing SWG documents will remain in effect until updated documents are disseminated by the OSAC or the SWG. SWGDAM will retain the responsibility for updating the FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standards.

– Forensic Science Standards Board: March 2015