Mass disaster scenarios involving large numbers of victims require fast and reliable identification processes. However, current approaches still rely heavily on manual data handling, slowing down antemortem analysis and producing results that can vary depending on the examiner. Using an existing database and future casework from the Institute of Forensic Medicine Basel, Dr. Neuhaus’s project translates an artificial intelligence model into an innovative automated identification workflow.

This research represents an important step toward a standardized framework for forensic identification. By delivering a faster, reliable, and examiner-independent identification of unknown deceased individuals, the project has the potential to significantly improve disaster victim identification, reduce uncertainty for families, and strengthen legal processes.