Dirk

Vandermeulen

ABOUT

Professor Dirk Vandermeulen holds the position of professor of medical and forensic image analysis at the Division for Image and Speech Processing, Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven. He is also an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. 

Initially, his research focused on image processing for computer-assisted stereotactic neurosurgery. Some of this work has been implemented in a commercially available stereotactic planning system. Later, his work shifted towards medical image analysis, still strongly emphasising neurosurgical and neurological applications. He now co-supervises research work on model-based image analysis and, more recently, deep learning.

Since 2002, Professor Vandermeulen has applied computer vision and medical image analysis techniques to forensic imaging, particularly craniofacial reconstruction, biometric authentication, and facial analysis. His major scientific achievements in forensic image analysis include co-developing craniofacial reconstruction methodologies and software, being the first to create a statistical-based reconstruction method. He also co-supervised the development of morphometric analysis tools for facial analysis and studied phenotype-genotype relationships. Additionally, he has co-supervised advanced computer vision and image analysis approaches in forensic image analysis, such as bloodstain pattern analysis and dental age estimation.

Professor Vandermeulen has a long list of publications, with over 120 journal papers and nearly 150 conference articles. According to Google Scholar, his h-index is 61, his i-10 index is 160, and his total number of citations is 24334.

CONFERENCE

Computer Science meets Craniofacial Reconstruction

Computer science has made significant contributions to the field of craniofacial reconstruction, particularly in its application to forensic investigations. Forensic craniofacial reconstruction is the process of creating a facial approximation of an unidentified individual based on their skeletal remains. This process involves the use of advanced imaging techniques, such as CT and MRI, to create detailed 3D models of the skull and the face. 

The utilisation of computational techniques has substantially facilitated forensic craniofacial reconstruction. By integrating statistical models that account for the correlation between skull and face, gender, and ethnicity, the resulting facial approximation can offer valuable insights to aid in the identification of an individual. 
Overall, the use of computer science in forensic craniofacial reconstruction has assisted forensic investigators in identifying individuals based on their skeletal remains. This has important implications for law enforcement and justice systems, as it can help to solve cold cases and aid in the identification of missing persons.

This plenary talk will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in computerised craniofacial reconstruction, making it an invaluable resource for professionals interested in this field. The presentation will feature a detailed analysis of the advantages and potential drawbacks of current techniques, including an exploration of any open problems that require attention. Moreover, the talk will examine the role of recent developments in AI technology and their potential impact on craniofacial reconstruction. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the state-of-the-art methods and insights into the future direction of this field.