Geoscientists at Crime Scenes

This book presents the forensic geoscience in general and, in particular, in Italy and their application to peculiar crimes. Italy is internationally relevant due to the presence of different kinds of geo-crimes (in the first place, environmental mafia), and is emblematic to understanding the best way to fight these crimes. This book will not only offer a new view point to comprehending these geo-crimes, but also fresh and updated results of the different methods applied to fight against these crimes. This book is unique in that it is not a collection of articles but an individual work with the same theme beginning with a state-of-the-art of these disciplines to their international value passing through several case studies.

Geo-crime is the new lawbreaking - this book will help you to understand, analyze and prevent it Offers a new viewpoint on understanding 'geo-crimes' Fresh and updated results of the different methods to fight against crimes which can be used internationally Geoscience is the new CSIA book helping law enforcement against geo-crimes

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After the publication of the first Italian book on Forensic Geoscience: Geologia Forense (Di Maggio, Barone, et al. 2013, Flaccovio Ed.), the international demand to have an International version (in English language) about the new applications of this topic carried out in Italy and the possibility to apply them in international contexts encouraged us to create a new English book based on this.

If forensic science is the application of technical and scientific methodologies applied to traditional categories of judicial investigations, in connection with the investigation of a crime or a social behavior, within them a special role is held by forensic geoscience, or the application of different disciplines of Earth Sciences in judicial contexts.

Forensic geoscience encompasses some branches of the earth sciences such as geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, geophysics, remote sensing, soil science and archaeology, whose applications may provide a suitable or appropriate environmental interpretation of the surroundings, in the context of numerous types of offences, both criminal and civil.

The environmental context can become part of the crime narrative in diverse situations: it can be the place where to hide a body or precious objects, or it may be a witness to a crime. Given the nature of many crime narratives carried out in outdoor areas, the environment, as it is not a closed system, plays a dual role, passive and active. Passive in the sense that it may be the principal repository of clues and evidence that both the victim and/or offender may have been present in a given location. Active since it can be the protagonist of the crime narrative, where, for example, it may have been abused in the design and construction phases of landfill or architectural structures, but also when it leaves proof marks on clothing and objects, such as the soil found on footwear. Police and other law enforcement organization are increasingly becoming more dependent on the expertise that can be provided by forensic geoscience. As such, forensic geoscientists are therefore likely to continue in the years ahead providing an important role assisting with certain types of criminal investigations. It is therefore expected that this book will be of value to forensic geologists, forensic archaeologists, forensic scientists, environmental scientists, geophysicists, geomorphologists, police officers, law enforcement officers and students. Accordingly, Geoscientist at Crime Scenes provides information and a valuable collection of cases that are relevant for the professional and practicable applications of geoscience to policing and law enforcement. This book should be in the collection of every forensic geo-scientist throughout the world.

Contenu
Preface.- Chapter 1 Introduction to forensic geoscience.- 1.1 The Applications of forensic geoscience.- 1.2 Crime Scene Investigations.- 1.3 The geo-scientific approach to crime scene.- Chapter 2 - Geological materials on the crime scene.- 2.1 Minerals.- 2.2 Rocks.- 2.3 Sands.- 2.4 Dusts.- 2.5 Soils .- 2.6 Gems .- 2.7 Precious metals .- 2.8 Fossils.- Chapter 3 - Pedology applied to forensics.- 3.1 Characteristics of forensic soils.- 3.2 Interdisciplinary in studies and forensic soil science analysis.- 3.3 The site survey in forensic soil science applications.- 3.4 The collection of evidence and preservation of traces of soil samples.- 3.5 The effects of wrong methods and operations during site surveys and evidence collection.- 3.6 Issues related to traces of soil .- Chapter 4 - Forensic Analysis of Soils and Geological Materials.- 4.1 Forensic laboratory analytical procedures for soils.- 4.2 Color analysis.- 4.3 The particle size analysis.- 4.4 Density analysis.- 4.5 Stereoscopic microscope analysis.- 4.6 Analysis by means of the polarizing microscope.- 4.7 X-ray diffraction analysis.- 4.8 SEM-EDX spectroscopy.- 4.9 Raman Spectroscopy.- 4.10 FT-IR spectroscopy.- 4.11 Thermal analysis.- Chapter 5 - Remote sensing applications in forensic investigations.- 5.1 Photointerpretation .- 5.3 Forensic photo-interpretation.- Appendix - A brief history of aerial photography in Italy.- Chapter 6 - Forensic Geomorphology.- 6.1. Overview.- 6.2. Principles and concepts of geomorphology.- 6.4. Determining the activity state of landforms.- 6.5. The detection of surface deposits .- Chapter 7 - Environmental Forensics.- 7.1 Inspections and historical research.- 7.2 Aerial photos and satellite footage.- 7.3 GPS surveys and DTM.- 7.4 Operating modes of sample collection.- 7.5 Packaging and transport.- 7.6 Worksite operating issues.- 7.7. Forensic environmental expert's activities.- Chapter 8 - Forensic Geophysics.- 8.1 Forensic geophysics.- 8.2Pros and Cons of forensic geophysics.- 8.3 Cadaver dogs.- 8.4 Survey criticalities.- Appendix - How does GPR work.- Chapter 9 - Forensic Archaeology.- 9.1 Forensic archeology.- 9.2 Stratigraphic excavations at the crime scene.- 9.3 Forensic Archaeology and the integrated approach.- 9.4 Survey criticalities.- Chapter 10 - Quality, Expertise, and Ethics in Forensic Geoscience.