GPR data analysis enhanced by microwave tomography for forensic archaeology

Abstract

GPR has been used worldwide to help the police enforcement to search for missing bodies. In this paper, microwave tomography is considered as an advanced data processing technique in order to enhance the visualization and thus improve the interpretation of GPR images for forensic purposes. In particular, we discuss on an experiment that was carried out by using a pig to simulate a human body buried in a tropical environment. A system equipped with 270 MHz and 900 MHz antennas was used to survey the area. The microwave tomography approach applied to the 270 MHz data allowed to get a good identification of the edges of the target, as well as to determine its position in the area of the experiment. The tomographic reconstruction of 900 MHz data allowed a better visualization of the grave itself.