Forensic Anthropology and New Technologies: 3D scanning method validation aiming at human identification

• Grant number: 14/17351-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 03, 2014
• End date: April 04, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Monica da Costa Serra
• Grantee: Monica da Costa Serra
• Host Investigator: Eugenia Maria Guedes Pinto Antunes da Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Coimbra (UC), Portugal

Abstract

Within the scope of Forensic Sciences, works in the areas of Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Medicine and Forensic Dentistry seek, among others, efficient, efficacious and effective forms to contribute to Society and to Justice. Among the various fields encompassed by these areas, the need for human identification determines the search for methods of identification or recognition that, in the end, allow the establishment of the identity of a person. Thus, forensic anthropological works, seeking to estimate age, gender, ancestry/geographic origin and stature, among others, are important in this context. New technologies recently developed brought new possibilities, particularly in Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Medicine and Forensic Dentistry. They enable the realization of objective and fast works, which can be stored in digital files and sent by web, of feasible works, facilitating and improving the expert work. The Virtopsy Project has a range of protocols for the acquisition of 3D images. The best known is the realization of CT scan, but it also uses MRI and surface scanning with the employment of 3D scanner. Obviously, the cost of the 3D scanner is much lower than the cost of the others. This project has as general objective the validation of 3D scanning method, aiming to human identification and, from the obtained results, present proposals for feasible protocols for the Brazilian reality.