EigenFIT - Facial Composite Technology

What is a facial composite system?

A facial composite system is a tool for generating a resemblance to an individual's face from memory. Using a facial composite system, police experts are able to produce a likeness to an offender from a witness's description.

The EigenFIT system

EigenFIT is a computer software package that marks a departure from traditional feature based methods for producing facial composites. The package utilizes a multistage–evolutionary process and is capable of generating photographic quality face-images. At each stage of the process the operator is presented with a seletion of nine computer synthesised face-images known as a generation. All that is required of the operator is to choose the face from the selection which shows the best likeness to the offender. This face is then cloned and mutated to produce a new generation. Subsequent generations show an improved likeness to the offender and an acceptable accuracy may be achieved in as few as 18 generations. The evolutionary approach makes the EigenFIT system very easy to use.

Key advantages

Easy to use: Does not require an expert operator, may be used by the witness alone

Image quality: Unlike systems currently in use our method is capable of producing photographic quality images

Based on recognition not recall: Psychological studies have shown that we are better at recognising faces than recalling them from memory