Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics


Book Description

Soils have important roles to play in criminal and environmental forensic science. Since the initial concept of using soil in forensic investigations was mooted by Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories prior to real-world applications, this branch of forensic science has become increasingly sophisticated and broad. New techniques in chemical, physical, biological, ecological and spatial analysis, coupled with informatics, are being applied to reducing areas of search by investigators, site identification, site comparison and measurement for the eventual use as evidence in court. Soils can provide intelligence, in assisting the determination of the provenance of samples from artifacts, victims or suspects, enabling their linkage to locations or other evidence. They also modulate change in surface or buried cadavers and hence affect the ability to estimate post-mortem or post-burial intervals, and locate clandestine graves. This interdisciplinary volume explores the conceptual and practical interplay of soil and geoforensics across the scientific, investigative and legal fields. Supported by reviews, case-studies from across the world, and reports of original research, it demonstrates the increasing convergence of a wide range of knowledge. It covers conceptual issues, evidence (from recovery to use in court), geoforensics, taphonomy, as well as leading-edge technologies. The application of the resultant soil forensics toolbox is leading to significant advances in improving crime detection, and environmental and national security.




Soil in Criminal and Environmental Forensics


Book Description

This introductory volume to a new series on Soil Forensics gives a kaleidoscopic view of a developing forensic expertise. Forensic practitioners and academic researchers demonstrate, by their joint contributions, the extent and complexity of soil forensics. their reports exemplify the broad range of sciences and techniques applied in all stages of forensic soil examinations, from investigations at crime scenes to providing evidence that can be used in court proceedings. Moreover the necessity is depicted of co-operation as a condition for any work in soil forensics between scientists of different disciplines, but no less between scientists and law enforcers.Soils play a role in environmental crimes and liability, as trace evidence in criminal investigations and, when searching for and evaluating, buried human remains. This book shows soil forensics as practiced in this legal context, emerging and solidifying in many countries all over the world, differing in some respects because of differences in legal systems but ultimately sharing common grounds.




Geological and Soil Evidence


Book Description

The forensic potential of geological and soil evidence has been recognized for more than a century, but recently these types of evidence are used much more widely as an investigative intelligence tool and as evidence in court. There is, however, still a poor understanding of the potential value and the limitations of geological and soil evidence am







Soils and Fertilizers


Book Description




Elsevier's Dictionary of Soil Science


Book Description

This dictionary includes some 9200 terms, each with a definition and often and additional descriptive text in English, the terms being translated in French, German and Spanish. It is more complete than similar previously published dictionaries or glossaries, and contains all fields of soil science as well as some adjacent fields of other earth sciences, agriculture and engineering. Present concepts and definitions are detailed along with earlier concepts, not only for historical reasons but also for developing new ideas. Concepts, terms and definitions usual in literature of various countries are discussed and compared, to offer an appropriate exchange of ideas. Soil classifications and methodologies for soil investigation coming from a score of European, American and other countries and international organisations are presented, and correlations between names of soil taxa in different classifications are suggested. Readers active in all branches of soil science will find accessible answers to many of their questions, either directly referring to procedures used in the organisations where they work, or related to way of thinking in other countries. Readers active in other branches, but needing information on soils, will also find answers to this dictionary of great assistance to their research.* Over 9200 terms with definitions in English and translations in French, German, Spanish* Includes all fields of soil science and many connected sciences* All present-day terminology with inclusion of earlier, classical concepts and terms * Terminology in current USDA Soil Taxonomy, FAO World Reference Base or Soil Resources, and other documents from different countriesGranted the "N.Cernescu" award from the Romanian Academy on Agricultural and Forestry Sciences




Forensic Soil Science and Geology


Book Description

Forensic soil science and geology provides information and operational support to assist the police and law enforcement with criminal and environmental investigations. These include: crime scene examination and the collection of soil and other materials; analysis and interpretation of this geological trace evidence; and searches associated with homicide graves, counter-terrorism and serious and organized crime. This volume provides new and sophisticated field and laboratory methods and operational casework.







Practical Pedology


Book Description