Forensic Anthropology

Reconsideration of Bertillonage in the age of digitalisation: Digital anthropometric patterns as a promising method for establishing identity

“…The term “2D metrology” is employed to refer to existing research focused on measuring from 2D material, such as images or video frames. Its use for person identification has gained significant relevance, especially in the context of rising terrorist attacks and crimes captured on surveillance systems [ 48 ]. This practice has been utilized in court cases, as evidenced by Refs.…”

“…Some of the methods attain their best accuracy for height measurements within a range of ±1 to 1.5 cm under optimal conditions [ 58 , 70 , 72 ]. However, this level of accuracy significantly deteriorates under less favourable conditions [ 66 , 69 ].The significance of the biometric value of height for person identification is often debated, but generally accepted as useful for distinguishing individuals with notable height differences [ 48 ]. In forensics, height measurements can complement more definitive methods like DNA or fingerprint analysis, especially in cases where such material is unavailable [ 61 ].…”

“…[ 59 ] for a framework that is both scientifically and practically grounded, making it an intrinsic part of the method. This dual strategy aligns with the principles of the Daubert Standard—empirical technique, peer-reviewed publication, forensic medicine acceptance, and tested reliability—making it suitable for admissibility as court evidence [ 48 , 69 ].…”