Developing a Quantitative Method of Age Estimation from CT scans
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Designing and Developing a Quantitative Method of Age Estimation Based on the Pubic Symphysis through the Visualization and Processing of Computed Tomography Scans of the Pelvis
IRAS ID
274130
Contact name
Ling I Martin Lo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 18 days
Research summary
Forensic science has come under severe scrutiny, bringing question into the validity and admissibility of interpretation of evidence. Research within forensic anthropology have shown that visual assessments in nonmetric methods of age estimation depend on the subjective interpretations of text descriptions, hand-drawn illustrations and personal experience. Major academic organisations, governmental bodies and researchers have highlighted the inconsistencies, and lack of overall scientific reliability, robusticity, and validity found in the methods, procedures and techniques used in forensic science, and by extension, forensic anthropology.
Nonmetric age estimation using bone features of the pelvis has been critiqued in the literature for their reliance on subjectivity and personal experience. In addition to bias and subjectivity, traditionally used methods were developed using historical skeletal collections, which may not be representative of the contemporary living population. Furthermore, the age ranges purported by these nonmetric methods are extremely wide, a set of human remains can be estimated to range from anywhere between 24-81 years old based on current nonmetric methods.
While many methods based in metrics have been developed, they are often too complex for implementation and time consuming. There have been no attempts to metricize the nonmetric features identified on the pelvis for age estimation.
This research project will attempt to metricize the nonmetric features, by measuring the changes in the volume of the bone features as a result of ageing in modern humans (living patients), and seek to develop an objective and metric method that can be applied to estimate age in both forensically relevant living individuals and human remains.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A