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Geoforensics is a comprehensive introduction to the application of geoscience to criminal, humanitarian, environmental and military investigations. Hallmark features are: includes large-scale applications such as remote sensing, landform, geophysics as well as small-scale examinations of rocks and spoils to trace material--the two scales of investigation are linked by geoscience applications to forensics; illustrated with over 40 case studies to inform the reader through theory as well as application; and, includes examples taken from an environmental and humanitarian perspective in addition to the terrorist and domestic criminal cases more regularly discussed.It also describes and examines innovative methods that are of growing importance in geoforensics, for example multi-proxy methods, sedimentology, the examination of trace evidence (non-destructive testing, small samples) and the legal aspects of geostatistics. This book includes a chapter on the use of GIS in criminalistics; material on how geoscience methods and applications are used at a crime scene; and, features an accompanying website.With contributions from Laurance Donnelly, Mark Harrison MBE, and Antoinette Keaney, this is a groundbreaking textbook in this dynamic and evolving subject area.
This book is invaluable to all students taking general forensic science, geoscience, forensic archeology and forensic anthropology courses. The book is also of interest to practicing forensic scientists looking for an overview of the subject, to law enforcement officers of the military, environmental impact assessment and police, and to legal professionals and humanitarian aid workers.
Acknowledgements
Preamble
1. Background to the work, organization of the text and history of research
2. Physical geography, geomorphology, landform interpretation, archaeology, stratigraphy and hydrodynamics
3. Geophysics
4. Remote sensing
5. Spatial location and geographic information science
6. Scale, sampling and geostatistics
7. Conventional geological analysis
8. Trace evidence
9. The search for buried materials
10. Circuit complete
Appendix 1. Search methods
Appendix 2. Soil sampling
A.1 Sampling protocol suggestions
References
Index
The book is an excellent source of information on the applied aspect of Earth sciences. In my opinion, the book is worth reading, especially for those who are professional geologists, geographers or geophysicists. They may be surprised by the new, sometimes amazing applications of the methodology of their well-known disciplines.
- Geologos, November 2010
"[The book] is concerned with evidence of crime from the world beneath our feet: it's more 'Time Team' than 'Silent Witness' [...]. This book shows that a great number of different scientific instruments and techniques are being used to provide evidence that will stand up in court."
- Geomatics World, March/April 2009
"The work is an excellent introductory text, written in a very accessible style, for students and practitioners alike [...]. To have all this in one book is a great addition to the forensic geoscience literature."
- GiS Professional, February 2009
"[This books is] an excellent coverage of the current state of knowledge in both forensics research and the practical application of these geological concepts and techniques.... The whole book is peppered with useful and appropriate examples from the authors' wide experiences and also from the wider literature. This book is an essential purchase."
- Macaulay Institute, November 2008
