Abstract

A new approach, called Col lective Shape Difference Classi- fier (CSDC), is proposed to improve the accuracy and computational efficiency of 3D face recognition. The CSDC learns the most discrimina- tive local areas from the Pure Shape Difference Map (PSDM) and trains them as weak classifiers for assembling a collective strong classifier using the real-boosting approach. The PSDM is established between two 3D face models aligned by a posture normalization procedure based on facial features. The model alignment is self-dependent, which avoids registering the probe face against every different gallery face during the recognition, so that a high computational speed is obtained. The experiments, carried out on the FRGC v2 and BU-3DFE databases, yield rank-1 recognition rates better than 98 %. Each recognition against a gallery with 1000 faces only needs about 3.05 seconds. These two experimental results together with the high performance recognition on partial faces demonstrate that our algorithm is not only effective but also efficient.