| The application of remote sensing for detecting mass graves: an experimental animal case study from Costa Rica. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19120829 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Detection of mass graves utilizing the hyperspectral information in airborne or satellite imagery is an untested application of remote sensing technology. We examined the in situ spectral reflectance of an experimental animal mass grave in a tropical moist forest environment and compared it to an identically constructed false grave which was refilled with soil, but contained no cattle carcasses over the course of a 16-month period. The separability of the in situ reflectance spectra was examined with a combination of feature selection and five different nonparametric pattern classifiers. We also scaled up the analysis to examine the spectral signature of the same experimental mass grave from an air-borne hyperspectral image collected 1 month following burial. Our results indicate that at both scales (in situ and airborne), the experimental grave had a spectral signature that was distinct and therefore detectable from the false grave. In addition, we observed that vegetation regeneration was severely inhibited over the mass grave containing cattle carcasses for up to a period of 16 months. This experimental study has demonstrated the real utility of airborne hyperspectral imagery for the detection of a relatively small mass grave (5 m(2)) within a specific climatic zone. Other climatic zones will require similar actualistic modeling studies, but it is clear that the applications of this technology provide the international community with both an early detection tool and a tool for ongoing monitoring. |
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Authors:
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Margaret E Kalacska; Lynne S Bell; G Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa; Terry Caelli |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of forensic sciences Volume: 54 ISSN: 1556-4029 ISO Abbreviation: J. Forensic Sci. Publication Date: 2009 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-01-05 Completed Date: 2009-04-23 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0375370 Medline TA: J Forensic Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 159-66 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A-1S6, Canada. margaret.kalacska@mcgill.ca |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aircraft Animals Burial* Cattle Costa Rica Forensic Anthropology Infrared Rays Light Models, Animal Photography Radiation Spectrum Analysis Trees Tropical Climate |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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