title: Long-term Geophysical Monitoring of Simulated Clandestine Graves using Electrical and Ground Penetrating Radar Methods: 4-6 Years After Burial.
abstract: This ongoing monitoring study provides forensic search teams with systematic geophysical data over simulated clandestine graves for comparison to active cases. Simulated "wrapped," "naked," and "control" burials were created. Multiple geophysical surveys were collected over 6 years, here showing data from 4 to 6 years after burial. Electrical resistivity (twin electrode and ERI), multifrequency GPR, grave and background soil water were collected. Resistivity surveys revealed that the naked burial had low-resistivity anomalies up to year four but then difficult to image, whereas the wrapped burial had consistent large high-resistivity anomalies. GPR 110- to 900-MHz frequency surveys showed that the wrapped burial could be detected throughout, but the naked burial was either not detectable or poorly resolved. 225-MHz frequency GPR data were optimal. Soil water analyses showed decreasing (years 4 to 5) to background (year 6) conductivity values. Results suggest both resistivity and GPR surveying if burial style unknown, with winter to spring surveys optimal and increasingly important as time increases.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Jamie K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0009-361X
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.|Exploration Electronics Ltd., London Road, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8TS, UK.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jervis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Henry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Kristopher D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
authors.affiliation: School of Physical & Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic and Crime Science, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DE, UK.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cassella
keywords: clandestine grave; conductivity; electrical resistivity; forensic geophysics; forensic science; ground penetrating radar; monitoring