The use of geophysical methods in the search for clandestine graves has increasing in popularity with the improvement of the technology. Though geophysical methods can be useful, more often than not geophysical methods cannot be relied upon to definitively locate a clandestine burial. For the most part, geophysical search methods are really only useful in locating ground anomalies that have the potential to be a burial site and then have to be examined by another search method. The geophysical search methods should always be used as a part of a larger search plan that includes more search strategies, such as cadaver dogs and/or a line search. Individual geophysical methods have so many factors involved, and the slightest problem can affect
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There are several remote sensing methods, including aerial photography, ultra violet photography, and thermal imaging. These methods all have both positive and negative aspects about them that can encourage or discourage the use of the method in the search for clandestine burials. For example, with aerial photography can be used to identify unusual features or odd patches of vegetation that might indicate that there could be a burial (Pringle et al., 2012), though it is better to do aerial photography during hours when the sun is at a low angle in order for the more subtle features to show (Pringle et al., 2012). This technique is good because it can help identify thing that would not be noticed from the vantage point on the ground but it also has its drawbacks by having a specific time when it is best to be used. There is also the disadvantage that aerial photography might not be helpful in woodland areas because of the vegetation cover created by trees (Pringle et al., 2012). If the camera cannot see the ground then there is no advantage in using the technique. The use of thermal imaging can be very useful when searching for clandestine burials but this technique also has its limitations. “The optimum time to conduct a thermal imaging survey is just before sunrise or just after sunset, and this is thought to be due to localized increases in temperatures and different rates of heat gains/losses of disturbed soil compared to the surrounding environment” (Pringle et al., 2012). Like aerial photography, there is a specific time of day when the thermal imaging technique is going to be most useful but, unlike aerial photography, there is also a time frame that works best for thermal imaging when searching for clandestine burials. It is thought that the
There are several remote sensing methods, including aerial photography, ultra violet photography, and thermal imaging. These methods all have both positive and negative aspects about them that can encourage or discourage the use of the method in the search for clandestine burials. For example, with aerial photography can be used to identify unusual features or odd patches of vegetation that might indicate that there could be a burial (Pringle et al., 2012), though it is better to do aerial photography during hours when the sun is at a low angle in order for the more subtle features to show (Pringle et al., 2012). This technique is good because it can help identify thing that would not be noticed from the vantage point on the ground but it also has its drawbacks by having a specific time when it is best to be used. There is also the disadvantage that aerial photography might not be helpful in woodland areas because of the vegetation cover created by trees (Pringle et al., 2012). If the camera cannot see the ground then there is no advantage in using the technique. The use of thermal imaging can be very useful when searching for clandestine burials but this technique also has its limitations. “The optimum time to conduct a thermal imaging survey is just before sunrise or just after sunset, and this is thought to be due to localized increases in temperatures and different rates of heat gains/losses of disturbed soil compared to the surrounding environment” (Pringle et al., 2012). Like aerial photography, there is a specific time of day when the thermal imaging technique is going to be most useful but, unlike aerial photography, there is also a time frame that works best for thermal imaging when searching for clandestine burials. It is thought that the