Activities per year
Abstract
The body of a missing person was found adjacent to a 3km-long sand-covered forest track in an upland area of Northern Ireland (UK). Geological trace evidence in the form of sand was found in the passenger foot well and on the foot pedals of a vehicle belonging to the last known associates of the deceased. A Geographical Information Science (GIS) methodology was used to integrate regional geological and soil databases to confirm the provenance of the sand and to find geographic locations for control (or alibi) samples. To compliment the forensic examination in the case, seventy-seven samples were taken at the scene in order to test whether such a collection assists knowledge of the scene, or whether fewer, targeted samples at access points to the body would have sufficed. The results demonstrate the potential applications of a GIS approach and show the usefulness of employing a spatial sample scheme to understand the degree of local variability between samples. The findings from this study demonstrated that fewer samples would have been sufficient to associate the questioned items with the scene, yet would not have demonstrated how other areas of the track could be progressively excluded from comparison.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Geological Society of London Special Publication: GSL Special Publication "Forensic Soil Science and Geology" |
Editors | Rob Fitzpatrick, Laurance Donnelly |
Publisher | Geological Society of London |
Chapter | 4 |
Pages | 55-63 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Volume | 492 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 2041-4927 |
ISBN (Print) | 0305-8719 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Oct 2021 |
Publication series
Name | Forensic Soil Science and Geology |
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Publisher | Geological Society London |
Volume | 492 |
ISSN (Print) | 0305-8719 |
Keywords
- GIS
- spatial
- sampling
- geoforensic
- forensics
- geology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
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Dive into the research topics of 'Geographical Information Science (GIS), Spatial Sampling and Soil variability examined using a case of Manslaughter Forensic Soil Science and Geology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
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3rd Iberoamerican Workshop on Forensic Geosciences
Jennifer McKinley (Participant)
30 Nov 2017 → 01 Dec 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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A GIS-based landscape approach to Forensic Search Strategies and RAG mapping
Jennifer McKinley (Invited speaker) & Alastair Ruffell (Advisor)
29 Aug 2016Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Using Geographical Information Science (GIS) in Forensic Search Strategies
Jennifer McKinley (Speaker)
11 Sep 2015 → 16 Sep 2015Activity: Consultancy types › Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups