Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

All Outputs (61)

Applications of geoforensic trace evidence (2024)
Journal Article
Jeffery, A. J., Pirrie, D., Pringle, J. K., Ruffell, A., & Stimpson, I. G. (2024). Applications of geoforensic trace evidence. Geology Today, 40(4), 139-145. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12484

Geoforensic trace evidence studies can be crucial for law enforcement and civil/criminal prosecution and defence, to test potential links between suspect(s), crime scenes or forensic object(s). In addition, trace geological evidence can be used to id... Read More about Applications of geoforensic trace evidence.

Geoforensic search on land (2024)
Journal Article
Pringle, J., Wisniewski, K., Ruffell, A., & Hobson, L. (2024). Geoforensic search on land. Geology Today, 40(4), 146-152. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12485

Forensic geoscientists assist with the investigation of locating and characterizing suspected illegal activities and provide evidence for criminal or civil courts of law. Geoforensic search in terrestrial environments can be challenging, depending on... Read More about Geoforensic search on land.

Forensic geoscience on, and in, water (2024)
Journal Article
Ruffell, A., Pringle, J. K., Powell, N., O'Keefe, A., Wisniewski, K. D., & Hobson, L. (2024). Forensic geoscience on, and in, water. Geology Today, 40(4), 153-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12486

Geoscientists are being increasingly asked by law enforcement, environmental agencies and even wildlife trusts to investigate suspected illegal activities in and around water bodies for criminal or civil investigations. Searches and surveys in aquati... Read More about Forensic geoscience on, and in, water.

Forensic geoscience non-invasive detection and characterisation of underground clandestine complexes, bunkers, tunnels and firing ranges (2024)
Journal Article
Pringle, J. K., Ruffell, A., Styles, P., Stringfellow, M., Stimpson, I. G., Banham, S. G., …Thompson, J. (2024). Forensic geoscience non-invasive detection and characterisation of underground clandestine complexes, bunkers, tunnels and firing ranges. Forensic Science International, 359, Article 112033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112033

Recent events in conflict zones have emphasized that the successful detection and characterisation of buried clandestine complexes, bunkers and tunnels is vitally important for forensic investigators globally, to reduce or solve criminal activities,... Read More about Forensic geoscience non-invasive detection and characterisation of underground clandestine complexes, bunkers, tunnels and firing ranges.

A multidisciplinary scientific investigation of the 1916 Hawthorn Mine Crater, Beaumont Hamel, Somme, Northern France (2024)
Journal Article
Wisniewski, K., Doyle, P., Hunter, R., Pringle, J., Stimpson, I., Wright, D., …Ottey, P. (2024). A multidisciplinary scientific investigation of the 1916 Hawthorn Mine Crater, Beaumont Hamel, Somme, Northern France. Journal of Conflict Archaeology, 18(2-3), 125-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/15740773.2023.2297202

Hawthorn Crater is a prominent feature of the former Somme battlefield near Beaumont Hamel, Northern France. It resulted from the detonation of arguably the most famous of nine mines that the British had prepared below German lines on 1 July 1916, as... Read More about A multidisciplinary scientific investigation of the 1916 Hawthorn Mine Crater, Beaumont Hamel, Somme, Northern France.

Historic child homicide burial search in rural woodland (2023)
Journal Article
Pringle, J. K., Ruffell, A., Wisniewski, K. D., Davenward, B., Heaton, V., & Hobson, L. (in press). Historic child homicide burial search in rural woodland. Forensic Science International, 100324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100324


The cold case search for clandestine graves can be challenging due to the length of time elapsed since the crime and the search environment changing itself. This paper reports on a cold case search for “Christine”, a young girl who... Read More about Historic child homicide burial search in rural woodland.

Using Passing Trains as Seismic Sources for Refraction Microtremor Site Characterisation Surveys: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK (2023)
Journal Article
Eissa, R., Cassidy, N., Gunn, D., Stimpson, I., Dashwood, B., Morgan, D., …Lee, J. (2023). Using Passing Trains as Seismic Sources for Refraction Microtremor Site Characterisation Surveys: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. https://doi.org/10.46717/igj.56.1b.13ms-2023-2-21

<jats:p>Microtremor seismic surveys are routinely used to provide shear wave velocities that are converted to soil stiffness site profiles. In this paper, we look to assess the feasibility of using trains as seismic sources to characterize near-surfa... Read More about Using Passing Trains as Seismic Sources for Refraction Microtremor Site Characterisation Surveys: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.

Thinglink and the Laboratory: Interactive Simulations of Analytical Instrumentation for HE Science Curricula (2022)
Journal Article
Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Pringle, J. K., Zholobenko, V. L., Jeffery, K. L., Wisniewski, K. D., …Emley, D. W. (2022). Thinglink and the Laboratory: Interactive Simulations of Analytical Instrumentation for HE Science Curricula. Journal of Chemical Education, 2277-2290. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c01067

Access to laboratory facilities and associated instrumentation represents a major barrier to learning in physical science education, due to constraints introduced by limited time and financial resources, cost 20 of acquisition, and health and safety... Read More about Thinglink and the Laboratory: Interactive Simulations of Analytical Instrumentation for HE Science Curricula.

Extended reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science (2022)
Journal Article
Hobson, L., Stimpson, I., Wisniewski, K., Pringle, J., Heaton, V., Zholobenko, V., …Rogers, S. (2022). Extended reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science. Science and Justice, 62(6), 696-707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2022.04.004

Online virtual learning resources have been available for learning and teaching in forensic science for some years now, but the recent global COVID-19 related periods of irregular lockdown have necessitated the rapid development of these for teaching... Read More about Extended reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science.

eXtended Reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science (2022)
Journal Article
Wisniewski, Stimpson, Pringle, Rogers, Zholobenko, & Heaton. (2022). eXtended Reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science. Science and Justice, 62(6), 696-707

Online virtual learning resources have been available for learning and teaching in forensic science for some years now, but the recent global COVID-19 related periods of irregular lockdown have necessitated the rapid development of these for teaching... Read More about eXtended Reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for learning and teaching in forensic science.

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination in Graveyards with Contrasting Soil Types (2022)
Journal Article
Madden, C., Pringle, J., Jeffery, A., Wisniewski, K., Glanville, H., Heaton, V., …Oliver, I. (2022). Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination in Graveyards with Contrasting Soil Types. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 55278–55292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19676-z

Human remains have been interred in burial grounds since historic times. Although the re-use of graveyards differs from one country, region or time-period to another, over time graveyard soil may become contaminated or enriched with heavy metal eleme... Read More about Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination in Graveyards with Contrasting Soil Types.

The use of portable XRF as a forensic geoscience non-destructive trace evidence tool for environmental and criminal investigations (2022)
Journal Article
Pringle, J., Jeffery, A., Ruffell, A., Stimpson, I., Pirrie, D., Bergslien, E., …Partridge, J. (2022). The use of portable XRF as a forensic geoscience non-destructive trace evidence tool for environmental and criminal investigations. Forensic Science International, 111175 - 111175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111175

Hand-held, portable X-Ray fluorescence instruments (pXRF) provide a means of rapid, in-situ chemical characterisation that has considerable application as a rapid trace evidence characterisation tool in forensic geoscience. This study presents both a... Read More about The use of portable XRF as a forensic geoscience non-destructive trace evidence tool for environmental and criminal investigations.

Geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine burials of murder victims to aid forensic investigators (2021)
Journal Article
Davenward, B., Mirosch, N., Spencer, F., Jervis, J. R., Pringle, J. K., Stimpson, I. G., …Heaton, V. (2021). Geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine burials of murder victims to aid forensic investigators. Geology Today, 37(2), 63-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12344

Locating murder victims buried within clandestine graves is one of the most important and difficult challenges for forensic search teams. This article details how applied geoscientists have been geophysically monitoring simulated clandestine burials,... Read More about Geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine burials of murder victims to aid forensic investigators.

‘Scallywag Bunkers’: Geophysical Investigations of WW2 Auxiliary Unit Operational Bases (OBs) in the UK (2020)
Journal Article
Carr, S., Pringle, J. K., Doyle, P., Wisniewski, K. D., & Stimpson, I. G. (2020). ‘Scallywag Bunkers’: Geophysical Investigations of WW2 Auxiliary Unit Operational Bases (OBs) in the UK. Journal of Conflict Archaeology, 15(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/15740773.2020.1822102

In 1940, with the fall of France imminent, Britain prepared for invasion. After Dunkirk, with most armour and transport lost, a defence ‘stop line’ (GHQ Line) was prepared. Local Defence Volunteers (later Home Guard) were raised to buy time for the H... Read More about ‘Scallywag Bunkers’: Geophysical Investigations of WW2 Auxiliary Unit Operational Bases (OBs) in the UK.

Geophysical monitoring of simulated homicide burials for forensic investigations (2020)
Journal Article
Pringle, J., Stimpson, I., Wisniewski, K., Davenward, B., Heaton, V., Mirosch, N., …Jervis, J. (2020). Geophysical monitoring of simulated homicide burials for forensic investigations. Scientific reports, 10, Article 7544. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64262-3

Finding hidden bodies, believed to have been murdered and buried, is problematic, expensive in terms of human resource and currently has low success rates for law enforcement agencies. Here we present, for the first time, ten years of multidisciplina... Read More about Geophysical monitoring of simulated homicide burials for forensic investigations.

Controls on the deposition and preservation of architectural elements within a fluvial multi-storey sandbody (2020)
Journal Article
Mitten, A., Howell, L., Clarke, S., & Pringle, J. (2020). Controls on the deposition and preservation of architectural elements within a fluvial multi-storey sandbody. Sedimentary Geology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2020.105629

Architectural elements of fluvial multi-storey sandbodies provide principal controls on the distribution of meso-scale (100–101?m scale) heterogeneity and reservoir quality. Consequently, it is valuable to understand the deposition and preservation o... Read More about Controls on the deposition and preservation of architectural elements within a fluvial multi-storey sandbody.

Depositional conditioning of three dimensional training images: Improving the reproduction and representation of architectural elements in sand-dominated fluvial reservoir models (2020)
Journal Article
Pringle, J., Mitten, A., Mullins, J., Howell, J., & Clarke, S. (2020). Depositional conditioning of three dimensional training images: Improving the reproduction and representation of architectural elements in sand-dominated fluvial reservoir models. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 113, Article ARTN 104156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.104156

Fluvial deposits create significant hydrocarbon reservoirs, although their characterisation can be difficult due to their differing scales of heterogeneity. Whilst numerical modelling methods have advanced to statistically honour fluvial input datase... Read More about Depositional conditioning of three dimensional training images: Improving the reproduction and representation of architectural elements in sand-dominated fluvial reservoir models.