Geoforensics (eBook)

Dr Alastair Ruffell, School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, UK. Dr Jennifer McKinley, School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.

Acknowledgements.

Preamble.

1. Background to the work, organization of the text andhistory of research.

1.1 The scene.

1.2 The victim and materials.

1.3 The suspect.

1.4 The scope of geoforensics.

2. Physical geography, geomorphology, landforminterpretation, archaeology, stratigraphy andhydrodynamics.

2.1 Physical geography.

2.2 Atmosphere.

2.3 Types of landscapes, landscape change and human influenceson the landscape (short and long term).

2.4 Soils.

2.5 Hydrodynamics of rivers, lakes, estuaries, seas andoceans.

2.6 Geography, geomorphology, geological and soil maps, andother resources.

2.7 Groundwater.

3. Geophysics.

3.1 Seismic methods: macro to micro.

3.2 Gravity/gravimetrics.

3.3 Electrical.

3.4 Magnetic and electromagnetic.

3.5 Ground-penetrating radar (GPR).

3.6 Radiometrics.

3.7 Review of why some methods are favoured and others not.

4. Remote sensing.

4.1 Definitions.

4.2 Conventional aerial photography: rural and urbanexamples.

4.3 Geoscience use of light photography.

4.4 Infrared photography.

4.5 Elevation modelling.

4.6 Photogrammetry.

4.7 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and interferometry.

4.8 Multispectral and thermal imaging.

4.9 Hyperspectral imaging.

4.10 Satellite mapping.

4.11 Long-distance LIDAR (satellite, aerial).

4.12 Laser scanning of scenes and objects.

4.13 X-ray imagery, X-ray tomography and neutron activation.

4.14 Field Portable X-ray Fluorescence (FPXRF) spectrometry.

4.15 Some conjecture on the future of remote sensingapplications.

5. Spatial location and geographic informationscience.

5.1 Geographic location and crime.

5.2 Spatial data and GIS.

5.3 Spatial analysis within GIS.

5.4 Use of Google Earth in criminal investigations.

6. Scale, sampling and geostatistics.

6.1 Scale and spatial resolution.

6.2 Sampling for geological materials at urban and non-urbancrime scenes.

6.3 Timing of the crime.

6.4 Sample size.

6.5 Lateral variation.

6.6 Use and misuse of statistics in forensic studies.

6.7 Statistical sampling.

6.8 Number of samples required for robust statisticalanalysis.

6.9 Comparing 'like with like'.

6.10 Addressing the issue of comparing related material.

6.11 Spatial and temporal variability in nature.

6.12 Spatial awareness and use of spatial statistics:application of geostatistics.

6.13 Geostatistical techniques.

6.14 GIS and geostatistics.

7. Conventional geological analysis.

7.1 Elementary analysis of rocks 185.

7.2 Hand-specimen analysis case studies from Murray and Tedrow(1991).

7.3 Sediment analysis.

7.4 Fossils and microfossils.

7.5 A paradigm shift in geoforensics?

8. Trace evidence.

8.1 What is geological trace evidence?

8.2 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

8.3 Laser Raman spectroscopy.

8.4 Inductively-coupled plasma spectroscopy.

8.5 Isotope analysis.

8.6 X-ray diffraction and trace evidence.

8.7 Manufactured or processed materials that geosciencetechniques can analyse.

8.8 Some conjecture on the future of trace evidence.

9. The search for buried materials.

9.1 Introduction.

9.2 Possible methodologies for non-urban undergroundsearches.

9.3 Underwater searches and scene mapping (remote sensing,geophysics).

9.4 Gas monitoring, organic remains and the decomposition ofbodies.

9.5 Weird and wonderful burial locations.

10. Circuit complete.

Appendix 1. Search methods.

Appendix 2. Soil sampling.

A.1 Sampling protocol suggestions.

References.

Index.

"The book is an excellent source of information on the applied
aspect of Earth sciences. In my opinion, the book is worth
reading, especially for those who are professional geologists,
geographers or geophysicists. They may be surprised by the
new, sometimes amazing applications of the methodology of their
well-known disciplines." (Geologos, November 2010)

"[The book] is concerned with evidence of crime from the world
beneath our feet: it's more Time Team than Silent Witness
... .This book shows that a great number of different
scientific instruments and techniques are being used to provide
evidence that will stand up in court." (Geomatics World,
March/April 2009)

"The work is an excellent introductory text, written in a very
accessible style, for students and practitioners alike ... .To
have all this in one book is a great addition to the forensic
geoscience literature." (GiS Professional, February
2009)

"[This books is] an excellent coverage of the current state of
knowledge in both forensics research and the practical application
of these geological concepts and techniques.... The whole book is
peppered with useful and appropriate examples from the
authors' wide experiences and also from the wider literature.
This book is an essential purchase." (Macaulay Institute,
November 2008)