Can we match ultraviolet face images against their visible counterparts?

Neeru Narang; Thirimachos Bourlai; Lawrence A. Hornak

doi:10.1117/12.2177135

21 May 2015 Can we match ultraviolet face images against their visible counterparts?

Neeru Narang, Thirimachos Bourlai, Lawrence A. Hornak

Proceedings Volume 9472, Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XXI; 94721Q (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2177135
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2015, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

In law enforcement and security applications, the acquisition of face images is critical in producing key trace evidence for the successful identification of potential threats. However, face recognition (FR) for face images captured using different camera sensors, and under variable illumination conditions, and expressions is very challenging. In this paper, we investigate the advantages and limitations of the heterogeneous problem of matching ultra violet (from 100 nm to 400 nm in wavelength) or UV, face images against their visible (VIS) counterparts, when all face images are captured under controlled conditions. The contributions of our work are three-fold; (i) We used a camera sensor designed with the capability to acquire UV images at short-ranges, and generated a dual-band (VIS and UV) database that is composed of multiple, full frontal, face images of 50 subjects. Two sessions were collected that span over the period of 2 months. (ii) For each dataset, we determined which set of face image pre-processing algorithms are more suitable for face matching, and, finally, (iii) we determined which FR algorithm better matches cross-band face images, resulting in high rank-1 identification rates. Experimental results show that our cross spectral matching (the heterogeneous problem, where gallery and probe sets consist of face images acquired in different spectral bands) algorithms achieve sufficient identification performance. However, we also conclude that the problem under study, is very challenging, and it requires further investigation to address real-world law enforcement or military applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is first time in the open literature the problem of cross-spectral matching of UV against VIS band face images is being investigated.

Citation Download Citation

Neeru Narang, Thirimachos Bourlai, and Lawrence A. Hornak "Can we match ultraviolet face images against their visible counterparts?", Proc. SPIE 9472, Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XXI, 94721Q (21 May 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2177135

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