Graves and depot search using geophysical sensors

Supervisor: Dr. Jens Hornung

Funding: BKA

Persons of Charge: Jens Kirsten

Duration: 2019 – 2022

Summary

As part of a research project, the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany is investigating the application of selected geophysical methods for forensic issues. The focus is on the detection and classification of near-surface excavations and buried objects (subsurface deposits). In the course of a PhD, master and bachelor thesis in the field of Applied Sedimentary Geology at the IAG, several field and laboratory tests are carried out. So far, five graves and various earth depots have been created on three test fields. These graves and depots are monitored at regular intervals with ground-penetrating radar and multispectral cameras. In addition, the testing of modern remote sensing methods, such as autonomously flying “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” (UAS) with geophysical sensors (magnetics, hyperspectral cameras, etc.) and satellite remote sensing (optical and radar) are provided. The processing, interpretation and classification of the geophysical measurement data is initially based on knowledge and is to be converted into a partially automated evaluation using artificial intelligence (AI). The findings and products from this research project will be available to the police for their investigations after the project has been completed.