OSAC Facial 

Identification 

Subcommittee & 

FISWG Update

LORA S S I MS

AUGUST 1 3 , 2 0 19

R ENO, N V

I N T ERNATIONAL A SSOCI ATI ON FO R I D ENT I FICAT ION 

( I AI ) CO NFERENCE
OSAC Subcommittee 

Leadership

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Position Name Organization Term

Chair Lora Sims Ideal Innovations, Inc. 2021

Vice Chair Angie Yankowski Michigan State Police 2021

Executive Secretary Dr. Jane Wankmiller University of Northern Michigan 2021
OSAC Subcommittee Members

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Name Organization Term

Walt Bruehs FBI 2019

Mark Dolfi LA Co Sheriff Dept 2021

Neal Gieselman AWARE, Inc 2019

Leslie Kelly Department of Defense 2021

Dr. Steven Lee San Jose State University 2021

Ping Ma University of Georgia 2020

Allison Miller Biometrics Operations Division 2020

Paul Moody Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office 2021

Emily Mullins USG 2020

Todd Putorti New York State Department of Motor Vehicles 2019

Dr. Kirt Simmons AR Children’s Hospital 2021

Debra Tennant Federal Bureau of Investigation 2020

Antonio Trindade US Border Patrol 2020

Steve Wilkins Pierce Co Sheriff’s Dept 2019
Justin Cook Federal Bureau of Investigation

Edward German Macon County Sheriff’s Office

Jodie Linger Federal Bureau of Investigation

Michael Streed Baltimore County Police Department

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Carolyn Dutot Canada Border Services Agency

Dr. Netta Lev Tov Chattah Israel National Police

Michael Matheson Department of Foreign Affairs

Campbell McGhee INTERPOL

Reuben Moreton Qumodo

Johanna Morley Metropolitan Police Service

Patricia Moss Australian Passport Office

Ruth Phillips Metropolitan Police Service

Jason Prince Australian Federal Police

Dr. Arnout Ruifrok Netherlands Forensic Institute

Geoff Whitaker UK Home Office

Dr. Caroline Wilkinson Liverpool School of Art and Design

Foreign 

Affiliates

U.S. 

Affiliates
July 23-26, 2019

Orlando, FL

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Discipline Description

The Mission of the OSAC Facial Identification 

Subcommittee is to develop consensus 

standards and guidelines for the image-based 

comparisons of human facial features and to 

provide recommendations for the research and 

development necessary to advance the state of 

the science.

**Similar mission of FISWG**

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ng 

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Other Sub 

Committees

Speaker 

Recognition

Digital 

Evidence

Video Imaging 

Technologies 

and Analysis 

(VITAL)

DM 

SAC

Resource 

Committees

HFC QIC LRC

OSAC Registry 

Approval Process

Published as 

Standard or 

Guideline

SDO 

(ASTM)

Approved

& Published

Public 

Communications

Task Group

FI SUB 

COMMITTEE

Terminology & 

Training

Task Group

One-to-One

Task Group

Systems & Capture

Task Group

FISWG
ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial 

Image Comparison Feature List for 

Morphological Analysis

•Scope: To provide a standardized list to be 

considered when conducting morphological 

analysis

•Objective: Aids in providing a systematic way of 

comparing features of the face/head

•Key Components of Standard: 

• List of Facial Components (gross features 

considered in virtually all comparisons, e.g., 

Nose) 

• List of Component Characteristics (e.g., Root, 

Bridge, Tip, Nostrils, Columella, Alae)

• List of Characteristic Descriptors (e.g., overall 

shape, relative length/width, prominence, size)

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February 14, 2019
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Drawings by J. Wankmiller 10
Drawings by J. Wankmiller 11
ASTM E3148-18 Guidelines for Postmortem 

Facial Image Capture

•Scope: To provide guidelines for capturing postmortem 

facial images of unidentified human remains in a controlled 

(morgue) and semi-controlled (field) settings to facilitate 

Facial Recognition (FR) searches or facial comparison that 

may contribute to determining the identity of the 

unidentified person.

•Objective: Provides an overview of the optimal processes 

and techniques for the capture of postmortem facial images 

of human remains in order to maximize their utility in FR 

searches and facial image comparisons. 

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Image capture environment (lighting, camera position, 

and background)

• Preparation of the subject body (head position, head 

coverings and accessories, shoulder position)

• Preparation of the subject face (obscuring matter, hair, 

wounds or fragments, mouth, eyes, eyeglasses, 

prosthetics)

• Use of video

• Documenting scars, marks, tattoos (SMT)

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Standards in Process –

Registry Approval Pending

Public Comment Period 

until 9/5/2019
Drawings by J. Wankmiller 13

•Decedent position

•Lighting

•Camera position

•Background

•Decedent Body preparation

• Supine

• Seated

• Head covering

Other items to consider in this standard
Drawings by J. Wankmiller 14

Photographic Environment in ME Office

Placement of the Body Block to Adjust Head 

Position for Capturing Frontal Image from Above

Evidence of Resuscitation Efforts or Other Medical 

Intervention, as Shown in this Figure, May Also 

Obstruct Portions of the Face
ASTM E3115-18 Capture And Equipment 

Assessment For Face Recognition Systems

•Scope: To provide best practices for collection to 

ensure the images captured are suitable for Face 

Recognition (FR) system use

•Objective: Provides an overview of the 

considerations a practitioner should take when 

making decisions for the capture of facial images. 

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Image capture process as it relates to the 

following:

• Controlled acquisition (when all imaging 

parameters can be adjusted as needed to optimize 

the resulting image, e.g. passport offices)

• Semi-controlled acquisition (when some aspects of 

the environment or subject can be controlled, but 

not all aspects of both)

• Ad-hoc acquisition (when neither the environment 

nor the subject can be controlled, e.g. surveillance, 

cell phones, and third party imagery).

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Standards in Process –

Registry Approval Pending 

Public Comment Period 

until 9/5/2019
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Example of a Controlled Acquisition Environment
GUIDE FOR ROLE BASED TRAINING IN FACIAL 

COMPARISON

•Scope: To provide recommendations for a role 

based training to achieve competency in facial 

comparison tasks

•Objective: Providing guidelines for training 

programs specific subject matter, relevant to facial 

reviewers and facial examiners required to conduct 

comparisons from the basic to the advanced level

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Overview of different roles and what training 

should be achieved at each role (e.g. manager 

should have an awareness of all things, facial 

examiner should be proficient in the majority of 

subjects)

• Categories of Training (e.g. overview, skills & 

techniques, knowledge of processes, court 

preparation & presentation)

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Standards in Process –

Sent to SDO (ASTM)
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Matrix of minimum training recommendations

Aptitude 

Testing

Introductory

Overview

Skills and

Techniques

Knowledge of 

Processes

Court

Presentation

Instruction

Manager N/A AW AW AW AW N/A

Supervisor N/A CP AW AW AW AW

Collector N/A AW CP CP CP N/A

Facial assessor AP AW AW AW N/A N/A

Facial

reviewer

AP CP CP CP AW N/A

Facial

examiner

AP CP CP CP CP N/A

Technical

reviewer

AP CP CP CP CP N/A

System

administrator

N/A AW AW AW N/A N/A

Trainer N/A CP CP CP CP CP

AW – Awareness

AP - Aptitude

CP - Competency and 

ongoing Proficiency

N/A - Not Applicable
Image Processing to Improve Automated 

Facial Recognition Search Performance

•Scope: To provide facial examiner guidelines for processing 

a probe image in order to maximize the potential that an 

investigative lead will be included among the candidates 

returned following a facial recognition system (FRS) search.

•Objective: Images that meet agreed upon international 

standards (such as ISO/IEC 19794-5: Face Image Data) can 

normally be submitted to an FRS for searching with little or 

no operator intervention. Many FRS also include intrinsic 

mechanisms for correcting minor deviations in subject pose, 

image size or vendor specific adjustments to the image. 

Manual processing by a trained facial examiner may be 

beneficial for sub-optimal images (e.g. low resolution, 

heavily compressed or where the subject’s pose, 

illumination, and/or expression are non-neutral). 

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Generalized and sequential search process.

• Adherence to standard workflows

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Standards in Process –

Starting the SDO process
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•Verify eyes can be found.

•Save interim image sets 

•Search and review results 

• FRS results should be compared against the 

original probe image(s). 

•Consider using metadata binning

Other items to consider in this standard
Photographic Environment in ME Office 21

ReceiveImagery:

StoreOriginals

andmakelossless

copies

FirstPass:

IsolatedCrop

SecondPass:

Rotate,

Crop,

Resize

Background

ThirdPass:

Pose

Correction

FourthPass:

Image

Processing

FinalPass:

Subject

Processing

VerifyEye

Locations

SaveInterim

Imagery

ReviewSearch

Results

UseMetadata

Filtersfor

Searching

GeneralizedSearch

Steps

Processd

Imageto

search

SearchFRS

Nextpass
Physical Stability of Facial Features of Adults

•Scope: To be used in conjunction with ASTM 

E3149-18 for Morphological Analysis

•Objective: To describe the relative physical 

stability of facial features of adults when assessing 

the observed component characteristics within a 

single living subject as an aid to the facial 

comparison examiner. 

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Addresses five factors that affect the stability of 

facial features in adults

• All features are ranked as “Low”, “Moderate”, 

and “High stability” 

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Standards in Process –

Starting the SDO process
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•Expression

•Aging (short & long term)

• Short term – 5 years or less

• Long term – excess of 5 years

•Significant weight change

•Change in health

• Not including trauma, inflammation, and tumors

•Intentional alteration

Factors to consider in stability of Facial 

Features
Example of stability charts 24

Face/Head Outline

The shape of the cranial vault does not change significantly in adulthood under normal conditions, 

but weight fluctuation or subdermal implants may give the appearance of change. 

Changes in weight or expression affect the shape of the face with the latter dominated by 

movement of the lower jaw. The stability of the face shape over long periods of time may also be 

dependent upon tooth and related bone loss. Changes in health and intentional alterations (e.g. 

disease, maxillofacial surgery, orthodontic procedures, and cosmetic implants) may cause greater 

variation in the overall shape of the face.

Component 

Characteristic Expression

Timerelated 

Changes 

(Short 

Term)

Timerelated 

Changes 

(Long Term)

Significant 

Weight 

Change

Changes 

in Health

Intentional 

Alterations

Shape of Cranial 

Vault H H H M H M

Overall Shape of Face L H M L L L
Forensic Face Note Taking and Reporting 

Requirements

•Scope: To provide minimum guidelines on note 

taking and reporting procedures for forensic facial 

comparisons

•Objective: To assist forensic examiners in 

documentation and report writing

•Key Components of Standard: 

• Gives general guidelines but still allows for 

agency specific requirements to be included into 

the note taking and reports

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Standards in Process –

Starting the SDO process
Research Gaps Identified

Validation of Physical Stability

• Literature review of relevant studies [scientific, medical, academic, and professional] regarding the physical stability of 

the facial features of adults detailed within the current Physical Stability of Facial Features of Adults document.

• In addition to the literature review, the conclusions reached based on relevant research should be presented to the 

subcommittee in layman’s terms for incorporation into the document.

• Post Capture Imaging Processing

• Best practices and scientifically validated techniques to improve facial image quality for biometrics and forensics

• Human Factors in Facial Image Comparison

• Research to determine effective strategies for training in facial comparison and to develop testing material.

• Research to validate the methods used by trained examiners to compare faces and establish effective case management 

and bias mitigation strategies.

• Assessment of the accuracy of getting Facial Images from DNA

• Research to perform an objective evaluation of the performance of claimed techniques by vendor(s) who are selling 

technology that purports to create an accurate adolescent facial image from DNA.

• Evaluation into the Validity of Facial Comparison Training Methods *new*

• conduct empirical validation of current facial comparison training courses for operational personnel to determine what 

aspects of training are required to improve facial comparison ability

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Additional Items of Interest

•Current multi-subcommittee standards/guidelines

• Virtual Subcommittee #1: ISO 17020/17025

• Virtual Subcommittee #2: ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011

• Virtual Subcommittee #3: ACE Process Map

• Virtual Subcommittee #4: Training, Continuing Education & Professional Development

• Virtual Subcommittee #5: Source Conclusions

•Future possible multi-subcommittee standards/guidelines

• Presenting Evidence in Court (e.g. how to use visual aids)

• Reporting findings

•Leverage those already on the affiliate list and encourage others within the 

community to join OSAC to assist with document development, research, etc. 

• Complete the OSAC membership application form found 

at: https://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac-application.cfm

• Please be sure to specify your interest in the Facial Identification Subcommittee

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OSAC documents in progress

•Additional standards/guidelines currently being 

worked on by FI Subcommittee (all in draft format)

• Conclusion Scale

• Guide/standard on Live FR use

• Guide for Proficiency Testing in Role Based Facial 

Comparison 

• Guide for Aptitude Testing in Role Based Facial Comparison

• Guide/standard/best practices for managing head 

coverings, accessories, and make-up (HCAM) for booking 

photographs

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Application to OSAC

•For more information about OSAC or becoming a 

member:

• https://www.nist.gov/forensics/organization-scientific-areacommittees-forensic-science

• https://www.nist.gov/osac-application-form

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**Be sure to specify your interest in the

Facial Identification Subcommittee
FISWG/OSAC relationship

•FISWG & OSAC work together on development of 

additional standards & guidelines

•FISWG website has many other standards, guidelines, best 

practices, and use cases

•FISWG website contains FAQs regarding the FI discipline

•Meets separately from OSAC

• Next FISWG meeting scheduled for October 21-25, 2019 at FBI 

CJIS campus in Clarksburg, WV.

• Currently accepting membership applications to FISWG 

• Application information can be found at www.FISWG.org

•Questions regarding FISWG can be sent to: chair@fiswg.org

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FISWG documents finalized

•Standards/guidelines finalized 

• Guide for Mentorship of Facial Comparison Trainees in 

Role Based Facial Comparison

•Investigative Lead Note Taking and Reporting 

Requirements

• Forensic Face Note Taking and Reporting Requirements

• Physical Stability of Facial Features of Adults

• Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use 

with Facial Recognition Systems

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FISWG documents in progress

•Additional standards/guidelines currently 

listed on website as draft for comment

• Facial Comparison Overview and Methodology 

Guidelines 

• Effects of Printing Methods on Facial Images used for 

Comparisons 

• Standard Guide for Scanning Facial Images 

• Minimum Training Criteria for Usage of Facial 

Recognition Systems

•Image Factors to Consider in Facial Image Comparison 

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Application to FISWG

•For more information about becoming a 

member/participant of FISWG:

• https://fiswg.org/members.html

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Questions

Lora Sims

Lora.sims@idealinnovations.com

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