Geomorphology Applied to Forensic Analysis: a Necessary Assessment

Abstract

Forensic Science refers to the application of scientific instruments in investigations conducted in civil, criminal and administrative instances, with the purpose of understanding the causes, responsibilities or the dimensions of damages. They can be carried out in a variety of cases, involving threats to human life, medical litigations, labour, and, more recently, environmental issues. The approximation between Earth Sciences and forensic analysis has gained prominence nowadays, especially in geology and pedology. The participation of geomorphology in this debate is more recent, with few researches, but with great potential, mainly in cases involving processes and interventions on physical systems of the Earth’s surface. Identifying the main concepts, approaches and instruments used in theses analysis and based mainly on international literature, this study presents the state-of-the-art of the participation of Earth Sciences, and geomorphology in forensic analysis and elaborates an assessment of these applications, regarding its potentials and limitations. Among other surveys, a bibliographical research was carried out on Web of Sciences site supported by keywords previously selected. In the analysed period, initiated in the 1960s, there has been an increasing number of publications dedicated to the dialogue between Earth Sciences and forensic analysis, especially after the years 2000. Among other trends, systematic gaps in the participation of Geomorphology in forensic analysis and as experts were evidenced, especially regarding its discriminating potential in situations of greater complexity, which necessarily involve integrative approaches.