3D face modeling with multiple range images

A method of constructing a 3D model of human face by integrating multiple range images that were measured at different view directions is presented. The images were obtained by a high-speed rangefinder system which is capable of measuring the frontal face and capturing a texture image in approximately one second. A complete face model construction is thus performed by measuring the face in different orientations and integrating corresponding range maps using a least squares estimator. Range image integration is carried out in two ways: 1) by direct application of the least squares estimator to range values, and 2) by applying it to corresponding texture index values. A Sobel filter is applied to the intensity images to extract feature boundaries for the estimator. Both methods proved to have high accuracy returns and the average error of integration was estimated to be below 1.3 min