The 3D Analysis Software for Scientific Visualization

Case #: 1 The 3D Identification Data Entry Template is from this Excel file: HERE
This is a first case that I had worked on in a simulation on the NFTSC Technology Transition Workshop with Advances in Forensic Anthropology. I used a program known as 3D-ID. This program uses geometric morphometrics in an approach to shape analysis that efficiently and maximally incorporates the geometry of specimens into the analysis of their shapes. Traditional approaches to shape analysis rely on somewhat disparate collections of linear distances, ratios, and angular measurements that generally lose valuable shape information. Most, but not all, geometric morphometric methods focus on the analysis of the two- or three-dimensional coordinates of anatomical points from which any distance or angle defined by those points can be computed. This preserves all geometric information obtainable from the points and creates a direct link from the statistical analysis back into the physical space of the specimen.

3D-ID is a program providing geometric morphometric tools to aid in the assessment of the sex and ancestral affiliation of unknown cranial remains. I simply provide the three-dimensional coordinates of anatomical points available from the subject, and the program constructs comparable reference samples and assigns the subject to one of several groups for which sufficient data are available. Quantitative measures used in the assignment are provided for all tested groups so the investigator can make an informed choice after examining the relative similarity or distinctiveness of the specimen.

Here are the results that I received from computing the work:

Options...
FitMethod: CVA
Include size: false
Determine group and sex: true
Reference Data Set: data/3d_id.mdt

__Assessing group membership...

Using 89 shape dimensions.

Summary...
==========                            D2          Posterior  Typicality
 African - female (3):                153.9654     0.0000     0.3782
 African - male (4):                  120.7248     0.0000     0.7729
 African_American - female (96):       94.6922     0.0009     0.8220
 African_American - male (121):       104.0255     0.0000     0.6412
 Circumcaribbean - female (1):        284.4074     0.0000     0.0556
 Circumcaribbean - male (3):          110.8446     0.0000     0.9459
 East_Asian - male (6):               140.9908     0.0000     0.2789
 European - female (18):              131.4788     0.0000     0.2204
 European - male (24):                145.2291     0.0000     0.0710
 European_American - female (61):     124.4696     0.0000     0.2524
 European_American - male (96):       125.6240     0.0000     0.2238
 Mesoamerican - female (4):           114.2442     0.0000     0.8571
 Mesoamerican - male (21):             76.9341     0.9990     0.9892 <===
 South_American - female (4):         163.9665     0.0000     0.1380
 South_American - male (9):           139.2772     0.0000     0.2091
==========
*** PROCESSING COMPLETE ***



To maximize the number of specimens in the reference set, all available material is included regardless
of the presence of missing data. Some points (especially, for historical reasons, right orbital landmarks)
are missing in quite a few specimens.The following list will helps identify points you may wish to exclude from your assignment. This information will be incorporated into the documentation upon the next release.

This were the quantifiable data that I have inputted into the Excel file linked above.

m=number missing
n=total in data set
pro=m/n
Points:
# m n pro
1 left_asterion 15 1086 0.01
2 right_asterion 17 1086 0.02
3 basion 16 1086 0.01
4 bregma 6 1086 0.01
5 left_dacryon 6 1086 0.01
6 right_dacryon 6 1086 0.01
7 left_ectomalare 391 1086 0.36
8 right_ectomalare 424 1086 0.39
9 left_ectoconchion 18 1086 0.02
10 right_ectoconchion 11 1086 0.01
11 left_frontomalare_anterior 14 1086 0.01
12 right_frontomalare_anterior 8 1086 0.01
13 left_frontomalare_temporale 12 1086 0.01
14 right_frontomalare_temporale 8 1086 0.01
15 glabella 2 1086 0.00
16 lambda 13 1086 0.01
17 left_mastoidale 28 1086 0.03
18 right_mastoidale 26 1086 0.02
19 nasion 2 1086 0.00
20 inferior_nasal_border 13 1086 0.01 //hidden on screen
21 left_lower_orbital_border 19 1086 0.02 20 <- screen position
22 right_lower_orbital_border 738 1086 0.68 21
23 left_upper_orbital_border 22 1086 0.02 22
24 right_upper_orbital_border 739 1086 0.68 23
25 opisthion 18 1086 0.02 24
26 prosthion 274 1086 0.25 25
27 subspinale 27 1086 0.02 26
28 left_nasomaxillary_suture_pinch 15 1086 0.01 27
29 right_nasomaxillary_suture_pinch 14 1086 0.01 28
30 left_zygion 55 1086 0.05 29
31 left_zygomaxillare 18 1086 0.02 30
32 right_zygomaxillare 11 1086 0.01 31
33 left_zygoorbitale 19 1086 0.02 32
34 right_zygoorbitale 14 1086 0.01 33
35 right_zygion 40 1086 0.04 34