Biometric skeleton scans to recognise terrorists

It almost seems unbelievable, but researchers in the USA are proposing to take biometric scanning to a whole new level by capturing skeletal images.

The idea was born when a Wright State University scientist went online as his young daughters were preparing to go trick-or-treating and discovered that convicted sex offenders were living in his neighborhood.

He wondered if there was a way to positively identify sex offenders as they arrived at theme parks and other venues populated by young children? Better yet, the scientist wondered, what if there was a way to recognise terrorists in disguise at airports or U.S. ports of entry?

His answer? Skeletons. His thinking? Virtually every person has a unique skeletal structure nearly impossible to alter.

As a result, the Wright State Research Institute is now investing resources in a system that would scan the skeletal structures of people at airports, sports stadiums, theme parks and other public places that could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks, child abductions or other crimes. The images would then quickly be matched with potential suspects using a database of previously scanned skeletons.

Phani Kidambi, a research engineer at the institute who is helping lead the effort, commented: "Think about a scenario where the face doesn’t match, but the bones match. That definitely is a person of extreme interest because it appears he’s tried to change his face.”

The adult skeleton has 206 bones. Size, shape, density and joint structure make each skeleton slightly different. Throw in an extra lumbar vertebrae or extra rib — which some people have — as well as previously broken bones, implants, screws and other identifying characteristics, and the signatures become even more individual. And the skeletal structural features are fairly stable throughout adulthood.

X-rays, gamma rays or other forms of body scanning would be used to create a bone signature for each person. Wright State researchers are currently working on identifying key elements and measurements of the skeleton that differentiate one person from another.

“We also believe that you may not need an entire body scan,” said Kidambi. “Maybe just part of the body is sufficient.”

One option would be to focus on the clavicle—or collarbone—one of the most varied or individually distinctive bones in the body.

The skeletons of suspected terrorists who are taken into custody or sex offenders who are convicted would be scanned and the image features catalogued into a database. Custom computer software would enable newly scanned skeletal images taken of people are airports, stadiums or theme parks to be quickly compared with those in the database.

Researchers acknowledge that the system would only recognize people whose skeletons are already on file.

Ryan Fendley, the research institute’s director of operations and strategic initiatives, said scanners could be used wherever there is a controlled point of entry. “It could go anywhere,” he said. “It could be in every airport. You could put it in a hotel if it gets down to the right scale and cost.”

Candidate sensors in the scanners require people to be within about six feet of the equipment. A scan would likely take about five seconds, and a match could be found within another 10 seconds, Kidambi said.

“That’s our biggest challenge—to accurately acquire bone signatures at a distance,” said Skipper, adding that federal officials would like to see accurate skeleton recognition from 50 meters.” “If we had that problem solved, we’d be in market right now.”

Depending on the selected technology, a skeletal scan would only expose a person to radiation that is the approximate equivalent of taking one cross-country airline flight.

Basing the scanners on currently available bone density scanners could allow the technology to be deployed in the field within a year, Kidambi said.
 

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