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AERIAL USE OF AN INFRARED CAMERA IN A POLICE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF A MISSING PERSON IN NEW ZEALAND

NCJ Number
41582
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 205-211
Author(s)
D J DICKINSON
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES A METHOD TO LOCATE ANIMAL CARCASSES IN BURIED SITES USING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
Abstract
AN INFRARED CAMERA OPERATING IN A SPECIAL SPECTRAL RANGE WAS FITTED INTO A ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE IROQUOIS HELICOPTER AND USED TO ASSIST IN A POLICE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF A MISSING HITCHHIKER. ALTHOUGH UNSUCCESSFUL IN ITS MAIN PURPOSE, IT WAS WELL DEMONSTRATED THAT THE AERIAL USE OF THE INFRARED CAMERA AND EQUIPMENT CAN LOCATE POINTS OF INTEREST UNNOTICED BY GROUND SEARCHERS AND THUS DECREASE THE GROUND SEARCH AREA. SUBSEQUENT TESTS REVEALED THAT THE BODY OF A DEAD ANIMAL COULD EASILY BE DETECTED SEVENTEEN DAYS AFTER BURIAL.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS