Facial Identification Subcommittee

Note: the previous facial identification subcommittee is now the facial & iris identification subcommittee. please see this facial & iris identification subcommittee webpage for the latest information.

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

Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products

Officers

Jane Harris, Subcommittee Chair, Northern Michigan University

Krystal Howard, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Michigan State Police

Thirimachos Bourlai, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, University of Georgia

Members

Standards

On the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASTM E2916-19e1 Standard Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence Examination (drafted in collaboration with OSAC's Digital Evidence and VITAL Subcommittees, and added to the Registry on July 7, 2020).
• ANSI/ASTM E3115-17 Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems (added October 1, 2019).
• ANSI/ASTM E3148-18 Standard Guide for Postmortem Facial Image Capture (added October 1, 2019).
• ANSI/ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis (added February 14, 2019).
• OSAC 2020-S-0002, Physical Stability of Facial Features of Adults (added June 1, 2021 and sent to ASTM for further development and publication).

  • NOTE: This is an annex to the published standard, ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis.

• OSAC 2021-N-0025, Standard Guide for Printing Method Effects on Facial Comparisons (added May 2, 2023 and sent to to ASTM for further development and publication).
• OSAC 2021-N-0035, Standard Guide for Scanning Facial Images for Manual Comparisons (added October 4, 2022 and sent to ASTM for further development and publication).
• OSAC 2022-S-0001, Standard Guide for Image Comparison Opinions (added June 6, 2023 and sent to ASTM for further development and publication) (Created in collaboration with OSAC's Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis Subcommittee). 
• OSAC 2022-S-0007, Standard Guide for Facial Comparison Overview and Methodology Guidelines (added December 6, 2022 and sent to ASTM for further development and publication).
• OSAC 2022-S-0008, Standard Guide for Minimum Facial Image Comparison Documentation (added February 6, 2024). 

Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) & Eligible for the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASTM E3115-23 Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems (reaffirmation of E3115-17 which is currently on the OSAC Registry). 

At an SDO for Further Development & Publication

• OSAC 2021-N-0025, Standard Guide for Printing Method Effects on Facial Comparisons (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2021-N-0035, Standard Guide for Scanning Facial Images for Manual Comparisons (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2020-S-0002, Physical Stability of Facial Features of Adults (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2022-S-0007, Standard Guide for Facial Comparison Overview and Methodology Guidelines (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2022-S-0008, Standard Guide for Minimum Facial Image Comparison Documentation (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• REVISION to ASTM E3148 Standard Guide for Postmortem Facial Image Capture.
• Guidelines for Image Processing to Improve Automated Facial Recognition Search Performance.

Under Development

• OSAC 2023-N-0007, Guide for Facial Comparison Awareness Training of Assessors.
• OSAC 2023-N-0008, Guide for Facial Comparison Training of Reviewers to Competency.
• OSAC 2023-N-0009, Guide for Facial Comparison Training of Examiners to Competency.
• Physical Stability of Facial Features of Juveniles (Note: This is an annex to the Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis, not a stand-alone document).
• Image Factors to Consider in Facial Comparison.
• Standard Guide for Capturing Iris Images for Use with Iris Recognition Systems. 
• Standard Guide for Minimum Training Recommendations of Iris Image Examiners. 
• Introduction to Application Profiles for Facial Searching.
• Guide for Role Based Training in Facial Comparison.
• 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. 
• Managing Head Coverings, Accessories, and Make-up (HCAM) for Booking Photographs (Note: This will be an annex to ASTM E3117). 
• Facial Identification-Specific ACE-V.

Other Work Products

Research & Development Needs

• See the research and development needs identified by the Facial Identification Subcommittee.

Webinars, Presentations & Training Videos

• OSAC Facial Identification Subcommittee Updates, International Association for Identification (IAI) Educational Conference, August 2021. 
• OSAC Facial Identification Subcommittee Updates, IAI Conference, August 2019.
• OSAC Facial Identification Subcommittee Updates, IAI Conference, August 2018.

Discipline-Specific Bibliographies and Bibliographic References

These documents may contain information to help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, and other readers better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as currently practiced. The identification of these documents does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST. Only standards that are posted on the OSAC Registry and Technical Guidance documents, are endorsed by OSAC. The referenced documents may be subject to copyright. Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC 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