Advantages And Disadvantages Of Facial Reconstruction

Similar to the traditional approach, when using computer-aided 3D facial reconstruction, it is also necessary to assess the characteristics of the skull. Using this anatomical information alongside scanning technology, the computer can model the soft tissue depths onto a virtually generated image of the skull (Lee et al., 2011). The reconstructed computer image can then be altered instantaneously depending on whatever facial features need to be added. The image can also be sent via the internet or made accessible on the web for further dissemination into a wider community (Clement & Marks, 2005). The advantages of the computerised approach over the traditional approach are numerous, and include increased efficiency, rapid editing capability

Another benefit of this approach is the ability to sequentially generate numerous facial templates from a database to match the unique criteria of the skull (Jain et al., 2011). However, the computerized approach also has some significant disadvantages. For example, the facial templates used to reconstruct the face are usually derived from a limited database. Therefore, the facial appearances of the reconstructed face may not truly reflect some characteristics of the deceased individual, as that may be all that is available in the database (Clement & Marks, 2005). Also, another concern, and the subject of ongoing research, is the lack of accurate tissue-depth data. Without the proper data, any reconstruction that is based on it is seen as unreliable (Vaneziz et al., 1989). Although further work is required to improve computer-aided facial reconstructions, particularly an extension of the database used, it is still a technique that aids in the investigation and identification of human skeletal remains (Lee et al.,

Through various methods of forensic testing, the forensic experts believe that the Trapper was in his mid-30’s and lived somewhere in American Midwest prior to arriving in the North (Smith, 2009). He was also found to be “a man of means,” not only because he had a substantial amount of money on him but because he had expensive and sophisticated dental work done. The pictures taken of the Mad Trapper after his death by the RCMP were not accurate and do not reflect how he really looked like while he was alive (Adams, 2013). As such, John Evans, one of the forensic scientists, did a facial reconstruction of the Mad Trapper using the previously discussed computer-aided facial reconstruction method. Using a laser scanner, he made a 3-dimensional copy of the skull and generated a picture of what the Mad Trapper may have looked like at the time of his death (Hunt for the Mad Trapper, 2014). However, due to the limitations of facial reconstruction, subtle features like wrinkles, skin folds, and the shapes of the nose and other facial features can only be approximated. As mentioned, the skull cannot provide every clue needed for a perfect reconstruction, as every skull is as unique as every individual (Jain et al., 2011). Although the reconstructed image of the Mad Trapper has not yet provided a identity, even if one person is able to recognize the image, then it can be considered