Hyperspectral Imaging and the Search for Humans, Dead or Alive

• NCJ Number: 254613
• Date Published: April 2020
• Author(s): James Dawson; Danielle McLeod-Henning
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical), Report (Technical Assistance), Report (Study/Research), Report (Grant Sponsored), Program/Project Description, Grants and Funding
• Grant Number(s): 2015-DN-BX-K011
• Award: Development of a novel human materials hyperspectral remote sensing tool for forensic investigations and operations for U.S. law enforcement

Annotation

This article discusses potential law enforcement uses of hyperspectral remote sensing, a technology that may be useful in confirming past crime scenes, massacre or genocide sites, and mass graves; as well as locating suspects and performing search and rescue operations.

Abstract

Hyperspectral imaging, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the late 1970s, has become an important tool in several scientific fields, including agriculture, environmental monitoring, food processing, and cell analysis in biology. Using this technology, a National Institute of Justice-supported researcher at Miami University is developing software for drones that is capable of identifying and discriminating human materials, such as skin, hair, blood, and bone, from geologic, environmental, and confuser materials. The software is based on hyperspectral remote sensing and may be useful in confirming past crime scenes, massacre or genocide sites, and mass graves; locating suspects; and performing search and rescue operations.