3D-ID (original) (raw)

This website contains downloads for the software 3D-ID as well as a 3D coordinate database with modern cranial remains.

ABOUT 3D-ID AND GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS

Geometric morphometrics is a statistical 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 while still retaining size components. 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 dedicated, but flexible, Java program providing geometric morphometric tools to aid in the assessment of the sex and/or population affinity of unknown cranial remains. The user provides 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.