Accuracy of Portable Face-Scanning Devices for Obtaining Three-Dimensional Face Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 94
• Main Authors: Mai, Hang-Nga, Kim, Jaeil, Choi, Youn-Hee, Lee, Du-Hyeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 25.12.2020
• Subjects: Automated Facial Recognition - instrumentation; Databases, Factual; Face; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Review; three-dimensional face model; meta-analysis; accuracy; portable facial scanning; systematic review
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010094

The use of three-dimensional face-scanning systems to obtain facial models is of increasing interest, however, systematic assessments of the reliability of portable face-scan devices have not been widely conducted. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed considering the accuracy of facial models obtained by portable face-scanners in comparison with that of those obtained by stationary face-scanning systems. A systematic literature search was conducted in electronic databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for articles published from 1 January 2009 to 18 March 2020. A total of 2806 articles were identified, with 21 articles available for the narrative review and nine studies available for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the accuracy of the digital face models generated by the portable scanners was not significantly different from that of the stationary face-scanning systems (standard mean difference (95% confidence interval) = -0.325 mm (-1.186 to 0.536); z = -0.74; = 0.459). Within the comparison of the portable systems, no statistically significant difference was found concerning the accuracy of the facial models among scanning methods ( = 0.063). Overall, portable face-scan devices can be considered reliable for obtaining facial models. However, caution is needed when applying face-scanners with respect to scanning device settings, control of involuntary facial movements, landmark and facial region identifications, and scanning protocols.