ASTM International’s committee on forensic sciences (E30) has approved a new guide that will help with facial image comparison.

Facial examiners often compare two or more images to determine if the subjects are the same individual.

The new guide provides a list of features on the face, head, and neck that should be compared when visible in a facial comparison, noted ASTM International member Lora Sims, senior biometric examiner and instructor at Ideal Innovations, Inc.

The new standard (E3149) defines a set of facial components, characteristics, and descriptors to consider during what is called a morphological facial comparison.

Facial examiners of all levels, developers of facial recognition systems and algorithms, and developers of tools for facial comparison will find this guide most useful.