Interactive evolutionary generation of facial composites for locating suspects in criminal investigations

Statistical appearance models have previously been used for computer face recognition applications in which

an image patch is synthesized and morphed to match a target face image using an automated iterative fitting

algorithm. Here we describe an alternative use for appearance models, namely for producing facial composite

images (sometimes referred to as E-FIT or PhotoFIT images). This application poses an interesting real-

world optimization problem because the target face exists in the mind of the witness and not in a tangible

form such as a digital image. To solve this problem we employ an interactive evolutionary algorithm that

allows the witness to evolve a likeness to the target face. A system based on our approach, called EFIT-V,

is used frequently by three quarters of UK police constabularies.