AERIAL USE OF AN INFRARED CAMERA IN A POLICE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF A MISSING PERSON IN NEW ZEALAND

• NCJ Number: 41582
• Journal: Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 205-211
• Author(s): D J DICKINSON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Forensic Science Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES A METHOD TO LOCATE ANIMAL CARCASSES IN BURIED SITES USING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.

Abstract

AN INFRARED CAMERA OPERATING IN A SPECIAL SPECTRAL RANGE WAS FITTED INTO A ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE IROQUOIS HELICOPTER AND USED TO ASSIST IN A POLICE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF A MISSING HITCHHIKER. ALTHOUGH UNSUCCESSFUL IN ITS MAIN PURPOSE, IT WAS WELL DEMONSTRATED THAT THE AERIAL USE OF THE INFRARED CAMERA AND EQUIPMENT CAN LOCATE POINTS OF INTEREST UNNOTICED BY GROUND SEARCHERS AND THUS DECREASE THE GROUND SEARCH AREA. SUBSEQUENT TESTS REVEALED THAT THE BODY OF A DEAD ANIMAL COULD EASILY BE DETECTED SEVENTEEN DAYS AFTER BURIAL.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS