Forensic environmental engineering: a proposal of new procedures and technologies in the monitoring of contaminated sites

The forensic value of the environmental engineer in the environmental field is related to a working knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines and to a validated problem solver capability. This paper analyzes some specific case studies developed by environmental engineering research team of University Parthenope and introduces a proposal of new procedures and technologies in the monitoring of contaminated site that are not usual for the domain of the environmental engineering and, particularly, for the forensics field. The main novelty of this proposal lies in the specific procedure that involves aerial infrared thermography, specific information technology tools and combines the data collected at different altitudes with those grabbed by standard methods. In the examination of investigated scenario our procedures involve the use of the aerial platforms and in some cases also "special" aerial platforms like a specialized Drone/UAV. In the localization of environmental criticalities our techniques involve IR Thermography, in particular Quantitative Infra-Red Thermography. The proposed procedures, techniques and technologies were tested and validated in environmental police actions directed by Italian Government Bodies (like Public Prosecutor, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Guard, Financial Police, Italian State Forestry Corps etc.) in real on the field operations and not only in demonstration activities.