INCITS M1 Committee Adds 3D Data to Face Image Standard

March 11, 2005

The International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) M1 Committee on Biometrics added 3D data to the ANSI/INCITS 385-2004 Face Recognition Format for Data Interchange standard. The addition constitutes an extension of ANSI/INCITS 385 and includes new a face image type with texture data as a required component and depth data as an addition.

On March 9, INCITS posted a document describing the addition on its web site, also stating its intention to propose the addition to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) JTC 1/SC 37 group.

The proposal was also announced in a press release from A4Vision, a developer of advanced 3D identification systems and primary backer of the amendment.

According to A4Vision, the proposed amendment is intended to move beyond the 2D technology described in ANSI/INCITS 385 to provide instructions for storing a high-resolution, 3D facial image at 0.1 mm precision in a 3-5 KB record, without compression loss. The proposal includes facial-feature point data, so users can store so-called anthropometric landmarks, or facial data points. Facial-feature point data is used by forensic and law enforcement experts to find missing people in databases and compare human remains to life images.

Users with facial-feature point data can employ Content Based Information Retrieval (CBIR) functionality, such as extensible indexing, to enable filtering and searching of databases using human-language queries based on facial appearance descriptions. For example, a query of "show all males with long noses, closely placed eyes and oval shaped faces" would produce a list of subjects from a database matching the criteria. Facial-feature point data is also compatible with the MPEG-4 video standard, according to A4Vision.

The proposed standard enhancement, noted A4Vision, lets vendors incorporate 3D face-recognition technology in new products and applications, such as electronic cards and Machine Readable Transport Documents (MRTDs) for e-passports. Other advantages of 3D imaging are the accommodation of motion, variable light conditions and depth - a measurement that enhances accuracy.

A4Vision cited support for the amendment by an alliance including ID Technology Partners, Logitech, Motorola, Oracle and Unisys Corp.

The company said the ISO SC37 committee for biometrics will meet in June to discuss the inclusion of 3D facial imaging in the development of an international biometric standard.

Sources: International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), A4Vision.