NCJ Number
217209
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 11-15
Date Published
January 2007
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a tool for the field mapping of scattered human remains or other materials in forensic investigations.
Abstract
The findings show that the positional error for a single location determined with the GPS was less than one-half meter; however, when multiple positions were considered, the data produced on different days were not consistent. Further, the GPS receiver used in this study could not distinguish items in close association. Factors such as tree-cover density, the closeness of the materials to structures or trees, and satellite positioning contributed to the inconsistent data. The findings thus indicate that traditional techniques and photographs are still necessary for the mapping of scattered remains or artifacts. Two aspects of the GPS were considered: the level of accuracy that can be obtained by using a mid-priced GPS unit and the effectiveness of using the GPS to map scattered materials. The positional accuracy of the GPS was tested by using a National Geodetic Survey point located in Baton Rouge, LA. The utility of the GPS for mapping was determined by creating a mock field recovery and mapping the remains locations by using both the GPS and traditional archeological methods. 1 table, 5 figures, and 13 references