Investigação geofísica ambiental e forense nos cemitérios do Benguí e do Tapanã (Belém - PA)

Abstract

The Geophysics is an useful tool in the study of the contamination of water caused by cemeteries, and in the forensic investigation as well as. The contamination caused by cemeteries is still a theme little studied. Besides, forensic Geophysics is almost unknown in Brazil. To study those two themes – cemeteries and forensic targets – two public cemeteries were chosen: the cemetery of Bengui, already disabled, and the cemetery of Tapanã. The geophysical investigation in the two cemeteries was accomplished with two electromagnetic methods: ground penetrating radar (GPR) and Slingram of low induction number (low induction number – LIN). In the cemetery of Bengui, the GPR method was tested for the detection of the ground-water level because in the implantation of a cemetery, the most important information is the depth of the aquifer. In the Cemetery of Tapanã, where the Controlled Test Site for Forensic Geophysics, Environmental and of Rescue, denominated FORAMB, was implanted, GPR and Slingram were used in monthly surveys in order to detect the ground-water level, monitoring the development of the contamination and, especially, to find forensic objectives (a corpse, a box simulating a tunnel and a box with iron metal pieces simulating weapons). The GPR method was shown effective in all of the studies, especially in the delineation of the forensic objectives. The Slingram didn’t supply useful information.