Milsom & Eriksen (2011) provide a useful field book for Field Geophysics . Forensic geophysics is increasingly being used to detect near-surface objects/materials related to either a criminal or civil investigation. The most high-profile objects in criminal investigations is the search for clandestine burials of murder victims, but it can also include locating unmarked burials in graveyards and cemeteries, a weapon used in a crime, or indeed buried drugs or money stashes. Civil investigations are more usually looking to determine the location, amount and (more tricky) the timing of illegally dumped waste, which include physical (e.g. fly-tipping) and liquid contaminants (e.g. hydrocarbons). There are many geophysical methods that could be employed, depending upon the target and background host materials. Most commonly Ground Penetrating Radar is used but this may not always be an optimal search detection technique. Geotechnical Investigations Geotechnical Investigations use near-surface geophysics as a standard tool, both for initial site characterisation and to gauge where to subsequently undertake intrusive site investigation (S.I.) which involves boreholes and trial pits. In rural areas conventional SI methods may be employed but in urban areas or in difficult sites, targeted geophysical techniques can rapidly characterise a site for follow-up, intensive surface or near-surface investigative methods. Most common is searching for buried utilities and still-active cables, cleared building foundations, determining soil type(s) and bedrock depth below ground level, solid/liquid waste contamination, mineshafts and relict mines below ground locations and even differing ground conditions. Indoor geophysical investigations have even been undertaken. Techniques will vary depending upon the target and host materials as already mentioned.
Milsom & Eriksen (2011) provide a useful field book for field geophysics . Forensic geophysics is increasingly being used to detect near-surface objects/materials related to either a criminal or civil investigation. The most high-profile objects in criminal investigations are clandestine burials of murder victims, but forensic geophysics can also include locating unmarked burials in graveyards and cemeteries, a weapon used in a crime, or buried drugs or money stashes. Civil investigations are more often trying to determine the location, amount and (more tricky) the timing of illegally dumped waste, which include physical (e.g. fly-tipping) and liquid contaminants (e.g. hydrocarbons). There are many geophysical methods that could be employed, depending upon the target and background host materials. Most commonly ground-penetrating radar is used but this may not always be an optimal search detection technique. Geotechnical investigations Geotechnical investigations use near-surface geophysics as a standard tool, both for initial site characterisation and to gauge where to subsequently undertake intrusive site investigation (S.I.) which involves boreholes and trial pits. In rural areas conventional SI methods may be employed but in urban areas or in difficult sites, targeted geophysical techniques can rapidly characterise a site for follow-up, intensive surface or near-surface investigative methods. Most common is searching for buried utilities and still-active cables, cleared building foundations, determining soil type(s) and bedrock depth below ground level, solid/liquid waste contamination, mineshafts and relict mines below ground locations and even differing ground conditions. Indoor geophysical investigations have even been undertaken. Techniques vary depending upon the target and host materials as mentioned.
R
Field Geophysics
field geophysics
R
is the search for
are
R
it
forensic geophysics
D
indeed
R
usually looking
often trying
R
Ground Penetrating Radar
ground-penetrating radar
R
Investigations
investigations
R
Investigations
investigations
D
will
D
already