Phasinee Winyawong; Tawachai Monum; Padchanee Sangthong; Sukon Prasitwattanaseree; Pagorn Navic & Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh
This study focuses on utilizing digital image analysis techniques for forensic sex and age determination through analysis of the acetabulum’s morphology. The lunate surface served as a key indicator for sex estimation, while porosity in the acetabular fossa was analyzed to estimate age. A total of 237 adult pelvic bones (122 males, 115 females) were obtained from the Osteology Research and Training Center (ORTC), Thailand. High-resolution photographs of the acetabulum were obtained with a DSLR camera and ImageJ software was used for processing and quantitative evaluation of the images. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in lunate surface size between sexes (p < 0.001), with males showing larger dimensions. A logistic regression model developed for sex estimation achieved 87.3 % accuracy. For age estimation, the percentage of porosity varied significantly across age groups, as confirmed by the Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U tests. Linear regression showed a moderate correlation between estimated and actual age (r = 0.45), with a mean absolute error of approximately 14 years. These findings highlight the potential of 2D digital image analysis in assessing acetabular features for forensic applications. The non-invasive nature of this method supports routine forensic documentation and reduces direct handling of skeletal remains, preserving them for further analyses such as DNA testing. Given its high accuracy in sex estimation and moderate effectiveness in age assessment, this technique provides a practical tool for constructingbiological profiles. Future studies should examine image quality differences between DSLR and smartphone cameras to improve accessibility in various field settings.
KEY WORDS: Acetabulum; Sex estimation; Age estimation; Digital Image Processing; Forensic science.
WINYAWONG, P.; MONUM, T.; SANGTHONG, P.; PRASITWATTANASEREE, S.; NAVIC, P. & MAHAKKANUKRAUH, P. Sex and age estimation using acetabulum digital image processing in a Thai population. Int. J. Morphol., 44(1):199-205, 2026.
