Passive long-wave infrared three-dimensional integral imaging for face detection and depth estimation: an overview

We review our recently published work on a passive three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique known as integral imaging (II) using a long-wave infrared (LWIR) camera for face detection and depth estimation under low light conditions. Multiple two-dimensional images of a scene using a LWIR camera are taken, known as elemental images (EI), with each image having a different perspective of the scene. This information is combined to generate a 3D reconstruction of the scene. A 3D face detection algorithm is used on the 3D reconstructed scene to detect a face behind occlusion and estimate its depth. Experimental results validate the method of detecting a human face behind occlusion and estimating the depth.