Data associated with 'Comparison of time-lapse ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography surveys for detecting pig (Sus spp.) cadaver graves in an Australian environment’'

Locating clandestine graves presents significant challenges to law enforcement agencies, necessitating the testing of grave detection techniques. This experimental study assesses the effectiveness of time-lapse ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in detecting pig burials as simulated forensic cases. The research addresses three key questions: 1) observability of graves using GPR and ERT, 2) changes in geophysical responses over time, and 3) suitability of GPR and ERT as search techniques for covert graves. The results reveal that both GPR and ERT can detect graves; however, ERT demonstrates greater suitability in homogeneous soil and anomalously wet climate conditions, with detectability affected by grave depth. Additionally, resistivity values are influenced by soil moisture and decomposition fluids. The findings underscore the significance of site-specific factors when employing GPR and/or ERT for grave detection, including soil homogeneity, climate conditions, water percolation, and body decomposition state. These findings offer practical insights for law enforcement agencies dealing with homicide cases involving covert graves.

隐蔽墓葬的定位对执法机构而言是一项极具挑战性的工作，亟需开展墓葬探测技术的相关测试验证。本实验研究以猪尸掩埋场景模拟法医案件，评估了延时探地雷达（time-lapse ground-penetrating radar, GPR）与电阻率层析成像（electrical resistivity tomography, ERT）的墓葬探测效能。本研究围绕三个核心问题展开：1）利用探地雷达与电阻率层析成像能否观测到墓葬；2）地球物理响应随时间的变化特征；3）探地雷达与电阻率层析成像作为隐蔽墓葬探测技术的适用性。研究结果表明，探地雷达与电阻率层析成像均可实现墓葬探测；但在均质土壤与异常湿润的气候条件下，电阻率层析成像的适用性更强，且墓葬探测效果会受掩埋深度影响。此外，电阻率数值会受到土壤湿度与尸体分解液的影响。本研究结果凸显了采用探地雷达和/或电阻率层析成像开展墓葬探测时，场地特异性因素的重要性，这类因素包括土壤均质性、气候条件、水分渗流以及尸体分解状态。上述研究结果可为处理涉及隐蔽墓葬的杀人案件的执法机构提供实用参考。