Murder victims hidden in camouflaged graves could be found using pulses of laser light

Murder victims buried in unmarked graves in remote areas could soon be found using pulses of laser light, new research has shown. Laser light known as Lidar – a portmanteau of'light and'radar' – could be beamed from a helicopter to create 3D maps of remote areas to help police search teams. Scientists believe Lidar could quickly reveal places where ground has sunk by a few centimetres, caused by decomposing bodies buried beneath the ground. This sinking movement is too subtle for the naked eye to detect, especially when the grave has been scattered with leaves or debris, scientists say. The latest findings could help police search teams quickly narrow down their efforts when looking for bodies in remote areas.