THE ANALYSIS OF FACIAL PROFILES USING SCALE-SPACE TECHNIQUES

A method is presented of analysing facial profiles by using Scale Spac e techniques, reported in the pattern recognition literature. Through this technique landmarks, which are some extremal points on the profil e (e.g. inflection points), are mathematically defined in order to div ide the profile into a number of regions considered suitable for analy sis. They are seen to correspond to parts of the face of interest to t he clinician (e.g. the nose, chin, etc.). Thus, the whole profile can be qualitatively described by the Scale Space Image and the shape of i ndividual regions quantitatively described by a curvature value. A mid -line facial profile is used to illustrate the method and a cleft pala te case is analysed and the assessment of changes due to surgical corr ection are shown.