Illegal Dumping Investigation: A New Challenge
For Forensic Environmental Engineering
Author(s)
M. Lega, D. Ceglie, G. Persechino, C. Ferrara & R. M. A. Napoli
Abstract
When Italian law enforcement investigates illegal environmental dumping, data
must be carefully compiled, analyzed, and validated in order to successfully
prosecute the parties responsible. Investigators must be able to produce a
validated data-set construction using recognized scientific methods such as
random sampling. Chemical/physical analysis, photographs and/or other data
with significant details must conclusively demonstrate the pollution source and
causal connection between the pollution and observed environmental damage.
Authorized officers appointed by the Prosecutor Office to exercise their
functions under technical consultant supervision have extensive powers of
investigation in relation to illegal dumping. There are a number of investigation
tasks that can be carried out at both the place the waste was dumped (‘on-site’)
and in the office/lab to catch and deal with offenders. This paper introduces the
use of advanced technologies (special aerial platforms, innovative application of
thermography and advanced software tools) and new methods and procedures to
detect and fight this illegal activity. This is the first known use of these methods
in both the fields of environmental research and law enforcement. This paper
provides an example of where law enforcement and university research teams
can collaborate on developing enhanced environmental protection methods. The
proposed procedures, techniques and technologies, were tested and validated in
environmental police actions directed by the Italian Prosecutor Office and
allowed us to understand the forensic value of the environmental engineer.
Keywords: thermography, illegal dumping, law enforcement.
Keywords
thermography, illegal dumping, law enforcement.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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