Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Dig-For-Arch (Digital Forensic Archaeology)
Période du rapport: 2017-03-01 au 2019-02-28
To do so, the project objectives were:
To identify the ways in which existing digital recording methods and modelling techniques can be adopted or hybridised for use at crime scenes;
To develop new forms of digital recording and modelling techniques in response to challenges identified that cannot be solved by the adaptation of existing techniques;
To implement and test the these methods at a range of case study sites where domestic crimes and genocide have occurred;
To develop and implement protocols and training for forensic archaeologists and crime science professionals throughout Europe.
The project has resulted in the development and application of novel digital techniques resulting from case-study-based research in the UK, Cyprus, Poland and Ukraine. State-of-the-art techniques for searching for and documenting buried remains, identifying contaminated crime scenes, visualising complex crime scenes and digitally displaying forensic evidence have been created. Through an associated programme of training and support for specialists and professionals working in the area, and via publication, the project has set new standards in the investigation and re-presentation of crime scenes which can be implemented across Europe.
As part of the research and training activities, a series of fieldworks were planned to test and apply Non Destructive Technologies (NDT) for mass graves identification and documentation in conflict areas. During May and June 2017, the Digital Forensic Archaeology team was working at Holocaust sites in Poland and Ukraine in collaboration with international partners. Important results were achieved through the applications of geophysical methods and image-based modelling techniques. Thanks to the extended network of the Project Leader and of the Experience Researcher, new field surveys took place in Cyprus exploiting Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Photogrammetric equipment in July 2017 and September 2018. A series of case study surveys were also carried out at Staffordshire University's Crime Scene House to develop algorithms for automatic detection of contaminated crime scenes.
A second secondment took place at the Cyprus Institute in the second half of the project to enable the ER to work alongside the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) to access and learn how to use new tool and technologies and to apply the skills learnt within a real-life forensic environment relating to missing persons. This secondment enabled the ER to merge his pre-existing skills with newly acquired ones to maximise research results and outputs, and to broaden his network of forensic practitioners.
Post-processing took place after each field season and during the second secondment of data collected during the fieldwork described above. This resulted in the production of several reports which were shared with project participants (which included forensic practitioners), protocols and publications which were and are to be published in peer-reviewed journals. A series of algorithms, web-based visualisations and VR experiences were developed to facilitate the identification and visualisation of data to a variety of audiences.
Finally, a series of training opportunities were developed for practitioners which were trialled during the project and which can be replicated after the project's end date.
The new field in which the ER has been working has and will continue to benefit from his extensive expertise and from the cross-sector/cross-disciplinary expertise of the wider project group. It has allowed the host organization and ER to engage in research with real-world impact, and to collaborate across Europe. In particular, it has offered the host organization the opportunity to benefit from the state- of-the-art techniques developed by the ER for use in further European research and consultancy work, and to engage in essential discussions concerning ethical approaches to the treatment of conflict sites.
This project was the first of its kind in Europe and in October 2016, the O2 Innovative Digital Applications Award was presented to the Digital Forensic Archaeology Project in recognition of its pilot-stage work and its potential impact on criminal investigations.