The project followed a seven-stage workplan to ensure training, background research, pilot case studies, detailed fieldwork, workflow optimization, benchmarking and the development of training and guidelines could all be realised. Following an initial training period for the ER and assessment of the current challenges facing practitioners in crime scene recording in the 21st century, a series of pilot projects were undertaken to develop and implement novel digital technologies across a wide range of environments. During the early stages of project, the team collaborated with London-based firm Advanced Laser Imaging (ALI), to develop novel crime scene recording methodologies for maintaining chain of custody at crime scenes. During a secondment period with ALI. the ER had the chance to investigate and analyse forensic procedure, exploiting real case studies and latest digital technologies, expanding his know-how and research portfolio.
As part of the research and training activities, a series of fieldworks were planned to test and apply Non Destructive Technologies (NDT) for mass graves identification and documentation in conflict areas. During May and June 2017, the Digital Forensic Archaeology team was working at Holocaust sites in Poland and Ukraine in collaboration with international partners. Important results were achieved through the applications of geophysical methods and image-based modelling techniques. Thanks to the extended network of the Project Leader and of the Experience Researcher, new field surveys took place in Cyprus exploiting Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Photogrammetric equipment in July 2017 and September 2018. A series of case study surveys were also carried out at Staffordshire University's Crime Scene House to develop algorithms for automatic detection of contaminated crime scenes.
A second secondment took place at the Cyprus Institute in the second half of the project to enable the ER to work alongside the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) to access and learn how to use new tool and technologies and to apply the skills learnt within a real-life forensic environment relating to missing persons. This secondment enabled the ER to merge his pre-existing skills with newly acquired ones to maximise research results and outputs, and to broaden his network of forensic practitioners.
Post-processing took place after each field season and during the second secondment of data collected during the fieldwork described above. This resulted in the production of several reports which were shared with project participants (which included forensic practitioners), protocols and publications which were and are to be published in peer-reviewed journals. A series of algorithms, web-based visualisations and VR experiences were developed to facilitate the identification and visualisation of data to a variety of audiences.
Finally, a series of training opportunities were developed for practitioners which were trialled during the project and which can be replicated after the project's end date.
