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Testing application of GIS, forensic geomorphology and electrical resistivity tomography to investigate suspected clandestine grave sites in Colombia, South America

Molina, C.M, WISNIEWSKI, K.D, Drake, J, Baena, A, Guatame, A and Pringle, J.K (2019) Testing application of GIS, forensic geomorphology and electrical resistivity tomography to investigate suspected clandestine grave sites in Colombia, South America. Journal of Forensic Science, 65 (1). pp. 266-273. ISSN 1556-4029

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Abstract or description

Colombian forensic investigators required assistance locating clandestine burials of missing persons related to human right atrocities from 14 years ago. Geoscientific search methods were trialled, including a predictive spatial statistical model, using various input and database information, to select the most likely grave locations in difficult mountainous terrain. Ground work using forensic geomorphology, near-surface geophysics (ERT) and subsequent probing identified suspect burial positions. One site was in mountainous terrain and the other in former school grounds, both difficult to access and in poor weather conditions. In the mountainous area, a negative resistivity anomaly area was identified and intrusively investigated, found to be a buried rock. In school grounds, after MESP and intelligence was used to identify a burial site, surface depressions were identified, and ERT datasets collected over the highest priority depression; intrusive investigations discovered a hand-dug pit containing animal bones. This approach is suggested for Latin American searches.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Molina, C.M., Wisniewski, K.D., Drake, J., Baena, A., Guatame, A. and Pringle, J.K. (2020), Testing Application of Geographical Information Systems, Forensic Geomorphology and Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Investigate Clandestine Grave Sites in Colombia, South America. which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1556-4029.14168. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions."
Faculty: School of Law, Policing and Forensics > Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
Depositing User: Kristopher WISNIEWSKI
Date Deposited: 13 Feb 2020 12:04
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2023 13:58
URI: https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/6153

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