Survey and Insights into Unmanned Aerial-Vehicle-Based Detection and Documentation of Clandestine Graves and Human Remains

Document Type

Article

Authors

Bryce Murray, Mississippi State University and University of MissouriFollow
Derek T. Anderson, University of MissouriFollow
Daniel J. Wescott, Texas State UniversityFollow
Robert Moorhead, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Melissa F. Anderson, University of MissouriFollow

Open Access Pre-Print

https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol_preprints/131/

Abstract

Numerous biological and archaeological studies have demonstrated the legitimacy of remote sensing in anthropology. This article focuses on detecting and documenting terrestrial clandestine graves and surface remains (CGSR) of humans using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sensors, and automatic processing algorithms. CGSR is a problem of complex decision making under uncertainty that requires the identification and intelligent reasoning about direct evidence of human remains and their environmental fingerprints. As such, it is as much an engineering and geospatial problem as it is an anthropology problem. This article is an effort to survey existing work across disciplines and to provide insights and recommendations to assist future research. To support our claims, preliminary experiments were performed at the Forensic Anthropological Research Facility at Texas State University using UAVs, hyperspectral imaging, thermal imaging, and structure from motion. Prior work, our experience, and preliminary results indicate that both great potential and extreme challenges face remote sensing of CGSR.

Recommended Citation

Murray, Bryce; Anderson, Derek T.; Wescott, Daniel J.; Moorhead, Robert; and Anderson, Melissa F. (2018) "Survey and Insights into Unmanned Aerial-Vehicle-Based Detection and Documentation of Clandestine Graves and Human Remains," Human Biology: Vol. 90: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol90/iss1/4