This brief describes the Subadult Virtual Anthropology Database (SVAD) data collection protocol as well as basic information about the database.
This publication shares the data collection protocol for the Subadult Virtual Anthropology Database (SVAD), specifically discussing epiphyseal fusion, diaphyseal dimensions, dental development stages, vertebral, and neural canal dimensions. The document presents the standardized data collection protocols developed to collect skeletal and dental growth and development indicators on medical images (radiographs and computed tomography scans) and dry skeletal elements. The protocols were developed as part of National Institute of Justice Awards 2015 DN-BX- K009 and 2017 DN-BX-0144. The collected derivatives comprise the Subadult Virtual Anthropology Database (SVAD) and include: protocols for taking long bone measurements on segmented bone surfaces (see the Isosurface & Surface Generation Protocol in Amira™ (v. 2020.2) protocol and the CT scan visualization and measurements protocol in Amira™ (v. 2020.2)), and various subadult skeletal and dental indicators such as epiphyseal fusion stages, dental development stages, and the associated error and agreement rates (Corron et al. 2021; Stock et al. 2020). All data were collected in KSCollect, a graphical user interface and saved in an R data format (RDS) to preserve the data structure. If one is interested in collecting subadult data using the methodology described herein, the GUI is available for download and subsequent use at https://github.com/geanes/KScollect.