Biometric modality: Vascular – key considerations
Vascular patterns are largely hidden within the body although some are visible near the surface of the skin. They do not leave physical traces in the same way as fingerprints or DNA. Consequently this makes it very difficult to obtain unauthorised images or copy them. This provides a robust protection against presentation attacks as long as the digital templates are also correctly encrypted and protected.
Processing costs are higher than some of the main biometric modalities but this may be compensated, in applications that need a high degree of identity assurance, by the higher levels of accuracy delivered by vascular biometric systems. Veins are also not prone to ageing, damage, physical degradation or negative environmental factors in the same way as, for example, facial features or the papillary ridges of the fingers and hands.
