Title:	Influence of the sand-clay ratio of the burial material of forensic targets on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) responses–comparison of dry and rainy season data
Authors:	Castro, Kimberly Coutinho Paes Leme de Cunha, Luciano Soares da Sousa, Ana Clara de Araujo Nogueira, Pedro Vencovsky Borges, Welitom Rodrigues
metadata.dc.contributor.affiliation:	University of Brasília, Institute of Geosciences, Graduate Program in Applied Geosciences and Geodynamics University of Brasília, Institute of Geosciences, Graduate Program in Applied Geosciences and Geodynamics University of Brasília, Institute of Geosciences, Graduate Program in Applied Geosciences and Geodynamics University of Brasília, Institute of Geosciences, Graduate Program in Applied Geosciences and Geodynamics University of Brasília, Institute of Geosciences, Graduate Program in Applied Geosciences and Geodynamics
Assunto::	Ciência forense Sepultamentos clandestinos Radar de penetração no solo
Issue Date:	20-Mar-2024
Publisher:	Frontiers
Citation:	CASTRO, Kimberly Coutinho Paes Leme et al. Influence of the sand-clay ratio of the burial material of forensic targets on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) responses–comparison of dry and rainy season data. Frontiers Earth Science, [S. l.], v. 12,1305496. DOI: 10.3389/feart.2024.1305496. Disponível em: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1305496/full. Acesso em: 22 abr. 2026.
Abstract:	This study aims to assess the impact of the sand-clay ratio on the detection of simulated forensic targets resembling human burial evidence using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). To achieve this goal, we established a controlled site consisting of four experimental graves (SEPs), with each SEP representing a distinct burial scenario. The project’s objectives encompass evaluating how varying the clay soil content influences the detection of swine targets using 2D, quasi-3D, and 4D GPR imaging techniques. We observed signal attenuation in the GPR data during the rainy season and after reflection from larger targets, primarily due to the conductive behavior of the soft tissues within the targets. We achieved more precise results in an SEP that was 85% sand and 15% clay material, regardless of seasonality. We obtained better results in the dry season due to the greater penetrability of electromagnetic waves and more explicit reflections. In comparison, we achieved more precise results for SEP03, which was 70% sand and 30% clay material. In conclusion, controlled sites are invaluable tools for geophysical investigations, as they provide a controlled environment where we can meticulously adjust various parameters, leading to a more precise and insightful analysis of the results. By systematically manipulating factors such as the soil composition, target depth, and environmental conditions, researchers can effectively calibrate their instruments and methodologies, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of their findings. Therefore, controlled sites not only facilitate comprehensive data collection but also serve as essential platforms for refining and validating geophysical techniques, ultimately advancing the field of geophysical forensics.
metadata.dc.description.unidade:	Instituto de Geociências (IG)
metadata.dc.description.ppg:	Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências Aplicadas e Geodinâmica
Licença::	© 2024 Castro, Cunha, Sousa, Nogueira and Borges. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
DOI:	10.3389/feart.2024.1305496
Appears in Collections:	Artigos publicados em periódicos e afins

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