Forensic geoscience non-invasive detection and characterisation of underground clandestine complexes, bunkers, tunnels and firing ranges.

Autor: Pringle JK; School of Geology, Geology & Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK; School of Chemical & Physical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK. Electronic address: j.k.pringle@keele.ac.uk., Ruffell A; School of the Natural Built Environment, Queens University, Belfast, N. Ireland BT7 1NN, UK., Styles P; School of Geology, Geology & Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK., Stringfellow M; RSK Geosciences, part of RSK Environment Ltd, 18 Frogmore Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9RT, UK., Stimpson IG; School of Geology, Geology & Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK., Banham SG; School of Geology, Geology & Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK; Department of Earth Science & Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK., Wisniewski KD; School of Chemical & Physical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK., Owen S; RSK Geosciences, part of RSK Environment Ltd, 18 Frogmore Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9RT, UK., Hobson L; School of Geology, Geology & Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK., Thompson J; RSK Geosciences, part of RSK Environment Ltd, 18 Frogmore Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9RT, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Forensic science international [Forensic Sci Int] 2024 Jun; Vol. 359, pp. 112033. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Apr 25.
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112033
Abstrakt: Recent events in conflict zones have emphasized that the successful detection and characterisation of buried clandestine complexes, bunkers and tunnels is vitally important for forensic investigators globally, to reduce or solve criminal activities, address national security threats and avoid potential terrorist attacks. However, this can often prove very difficult, particularly in urban areas, with potentially both below-ground non target items and above-ground infrastructures present, that can interfere with detecting target(s). Here we provide selected successful case studies where forensic geoscience techniques were used to detect and characterise buried clandestine complexes, bunkers and tunnels using different geophysical techniques. Generally, desktop studies assessing pre-existing information, including local geology, soils, historical/modern remote sensing, maps and photographs inform appropriate geophysical survey technique(s) selection. Subsequent near-surface geophysical techniques are then employed to produce accurate plans of sub-surface targets, with numerical modelling and correction for the interfering effects of above ground infrastructure, enabling the calibration of geophysical datasets to provide confidence in their respective interpretations. All forensic investigations are, of course, unique to every site, and thus require an individual approach to their respective ground conditions. Investigations should be both phased and iterative, with techniques tailored to local conditions: the selection of geophysical method(s) is crucial to improve successful detection rates of such important buried targets.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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