Querying non‐uniform image databases for biometrics‐related identification applications

Abstract

Purpose

This research project focuses on developing techniques and technologies for automatically identifying human faces from images in the situations where face sample collections in the database as well as in the input query images are “as is”, i.e. no standard data collection environment is available. The developed method can also be used in other biometric applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The specific method presented in this paper is called scale independent identification (SII). SII allows direct “comparison” between two images in terms of whether the two objects (e.g. faces) in the two images are the same object (i.e. the same individual). SII is developed by extensively using the matrix computation theory and in particular, the singular value decomposition theory.

Findings

It is found that almost all the existing methods in the literature or technologies in the market require that a normalization in scale be done before any identification processing. However, it is also found that normalization in scale not only adds additional processing complexity, but also may reduce the identification accuracy. In addition, it is difficult to anticipate an “optimal” scale in advance. The developed SII complements the existing methods in all these aspects.

Research limitations/implications

The only limitation which is also the limitation for many other biometric identification methods is that each object (e.g. individual in human face identification) must have a sufficient number of training samples collected before the method works well.

Practical implications

SII is particularly suitable in law enforcement and/or intelligence applications in which it is difficult or impossible to collect data in a standard, “clean” environment.

Originality/value

The SII method is new, and the paper should be interesting to researchers or engineers in this area, and should also be interesting to companies developing any biometrics‐based identification technologies as well as government agencies.

Citation

Zhang, Z.(M). (2006), "Querying non‐uniform image databases for biometrics‐related identification applications", Sensor Review, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 122-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/02602280610652712