title: The use of magnetic susceptibility as a forensic search tool.
abstract: There are various techniques available for forensic search teams to employ to successfully detect a buried object. Near-surface geophysical search methods have been dominated by ground penetrating radar but recently other techniques, such as electrical resistivity, have become more common. This paper discusses magnetic susceptibility as a simple surface search tool illustrated by various research studies. These suggest magnetic susceptibility to be a relatively low cost, quick and effective tool, compared to other geophysical methods, to determine disturbed ground above buried objects and burnt surface remains in a variety of soil types. Further research should collect datasets over objects of known burial ages for comparison purposes and used in forensic search cases to validate the technique.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST4 6DA, UK. Electronic address: j.k.pringle@keele.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.affiliation: Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo 32, 20133 Milano, Italy; Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: giubertoni.matteo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giubertoni
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST4 6DA, UK. Electronic address: n.j.cassidy@keele.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST4 6DA, UK. Electronic address: k.d.wisniewski@keele.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kristopher D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST4 6DA, UK. Electronic address: j.d.hansen@keele.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Geophysics Team, Remote Sensing, English Heritage, Fort Cumberland, Eastney, Portsmouth PO4 9LD, UK. Electronic address: neil.linford@english-heritage.org.uk.
authors.forename: Neil T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Linford
authors.affiliation: St. John Fisher Catholic College, Ashfields New Road, Newcastle-under-lyme, Staffordshire ST5 2SJ, UK. Electronic address: r.daniels1997@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Daniels
keywords: Forensic geophysics; Forensic science; Magnetic susceptibility; Search