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Concepts, Principles, and Definitions

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Forensic GIS

Part of the book series: Geotechnologies and the Environment ((GEOTECH,volume 11))

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Abstract

Forensics is the application of science to solve crime . Geographic Information Science , encompassing geospatial information and technology (GIT), has become established within the criminology and forensic fields in the last decade. Law enforcement agencies and forensic investigators embrace geospatial science and technologies for collecting, storing, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying spatial data , resulting in new information, procedures, and models for investigation , policy, and decision making. Applications, acceptability, relevance , and procedural legality of geospatial technologies vary substantially, leading to the assessment of their roles in law enforcement, rules of evidence , protection of privacy , and constitutional liberties . This chapter discusses the context and principles of geospatial technologies and the integration of geospatial tools, principles, and methods into a five-stage model of crime analysis and investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, 330 Brooks Hall, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Gregory A. Elmes, George Roedl & Jamison Conley

Authors
  1. Gregory A. Elmes
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  2. George Roedl
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  3. Jamison Conley
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Correspondence to Gregory A. Elmes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    Gregory A. Elmes

  2. Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    George Roedl

  3. Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    Jamison Conley

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Elmes, G.A., Roedl, G., Conley, J. (2014). Concepts, Principles, and Definitions. In: Elmes, G., Roedl, G., Conley, J. (eds) Forensic GIS. Geotechnologies and the Environment, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8757-4_1

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