Robust Active Shape Model via Hierarchical Feature Extraction with SFS-Optimized Convolution Neural Network for Invariant Human Age Classification

Abstract

The features and appearance of the human face are affected greatly by aging. A human face is an important aspect for human age identification from childhood through adulthood. Although many traits are used in human age estimation, this article discusses age classification using salient texture and facial landmark feature vectors. We propose a novel human age classification (HAC) model that can localize landmark points of the face. A robust multi-perspective view-based Active Shape Model (ASM) is generated and age classification is achieved using Convolution Neural Network (CNN). The HAC model is subdivided into the following steps: (1) at first, a face is detected using aYCbCr color segmentation model; (2) landmark localization is done on the face using a connected components approach and a ridge contour method; (3) an Active Shape Model (ASM) is generated on the face using three-sided polygon meshes and perpendicular bisection of a triangle; (4) feature extraction is achieved using anthropometric model, carnio-facial development, interior angle formulation, wrinkle detection and heat maps; (5) Sequential Forward Selection (SFS) is used to select the most ideal set of features; and (6) finally, the Convolution Neural Network (CNN) model is used to classify according to age in the correct age group. The proposed system outperforms existing statistical state-of-the-art HAC methods in terms of classification accuracy, achieving 91.58% with The Images of Groups dataset, 92.62% with the OUI Adience dataset and 94.59% with the FG-NET dataset. The system is applicable to many research areas including access control, surveillance monitoring, human–machine interaction and self-identification.