Ground Penetrating Radar & Forensic Science
Interest in the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for forensic investigations is
ever-increasing. Interest has been spurred by the frequent appearances of GPR in press and
television coverage of high profile criminal investigations. While there are other forensic uses
for GPR, such as looking for buried guns, money, drugs or other crime-related items, the
most noted activity by far is the location of unmarked or hidden graves.

Older remains are most frequently detected by the presence of disturbed soil or items buried
with the body (such as coffins) or voids that develop with the degradation of the human
remains over time.

Above:
Police uncovering an unmarked grave.
Left:
GPR imaging shows response of unmarked
grave.  Response caused by the boundary
between disturbed soil and the intact  
undisturbed soil beneath the burial
location.

Subsurface Investigations Include:
· Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
· Side-scan sonar
· Thermo imaging camera
· Underwater infrared camera (up to 1000 feet depth)
· Search & recovery equipment

Subsurface Emergency Servces Include:
· 24-hour emergency search & rescue
· 24-hour forensic GPR investigation support
· 100-ton underwater air flotation system
· Shock-sensitive & explosive chemical removal & detonation
· Remote de-capping of unidentified chemicals