Estimation of stature of person from step length

Abstract

Shoeprints or shoe step length were distinctive patterns often encountered at crime scenes. These were among the most commonly found evidence at crime scenes. The objective of this study was to estimate the stature from step length in the normal pattern of walking. The relationships between a person height and the step length were conducted by using Karl Pearson’s correlation analysis. The present study was based on the measurements of step length and stature of 200 adult male and female ranging in age between 15 to 35 years using standard measurements method. It was found that the mean height of the male subjects was 176.43 ± 5.58 cm. while that of the female participants was 164.21 ± 5.89 cm. The mean step lengths in male and female cases were 60.25 ± 11.57 cm. and 56.52 ± 5.45 cm, respectively. In male cases, the good correlations between person heights and the step length (r=0.9027) were observed with a relative equation: y=150.07+0.4355x, where y was a stature and x was a step length, both were recorded in centimeter unit. While, in female cases, the heights of subject test were well correlated with step lengths (r= 0.9542) and a predicted equation was: y=105.93+1.0311x. The equation developed in this study can be applied to estimate the stature on the step length in criminal case.