Biometrics: Face recognition in thermal infrared

Biometrics has received a lot of attention in the last few years both from the academic and business communities. It has emerged as a preferred alternative to traditional forms of identification, like card IDs, which are not emedded into one’s physical characteristics. Research into several biometric modalities including face, fingerprint, iris, and retina recognition has produced varying degrees of success [1]. Face recognition stands as the most appealing modality, since it is the natural mode of identification among humans and totally unobtrusive. At the same time, however, it is one of the most challenging modalities [2]. Faces are 3D objects with rich details that vary with orientation, illumination, age, and artifacts (e.g., glasses).