The application of geographic information system (GIS) in forensics geoscience

Jennifer McKinley

doi:10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i2/017019

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Episodes 2017; 40(2): 166-171

Published online June 1, 2017

https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i2/017019

The application of geographic information system (GIS) in forensics geoscience

Jennifer McKinley^*

School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK; Communications Officer, International Union of Geological Sciences, Initiative on Forensic Geology (IUGS-IFG); ^*Corresponding author, E-mail: j.mckinley@qub.ac.uk

Correspondence to:^*E-mail: j.mckinley@qub.ac.uk

Received: November 17, 2016; Revised: March 9, 2017; Accepted: March 9, 2017

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Advances in technological developments in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has enabled the application of GIS in landscape mapping, environmental management, natural hazard risk and disaster management. As geographical information becomes more widely available through satellite and aerial imagery, the cost of software decreases and GIS expertise expands, it is most likely that the use of GIS will increase. The methodology has practical applications for police, crime scene investigators and forensic geoscientists. The aim is to develop GIS use in forensic search beyond mapping to offer a set of decision support tools that utilise the spatial analytical capabilities of GIS. This enables better management and understanding of the complicated and interrelated nature of a ground search.