Grave Detection Techniques

Cadaver-sniffing dogs or ground penetrating radar are used to detect clandestine gravesites, but, these are not always useful if the body is buried under concrete.
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a technique that can reliably detect biochemical changes in a decomposing cadaver.
The process uses an alumina-coated porous layer, open tubular (PLOT) column with a motorized pipette that pulls in air samples at ambient temperatures. The device detects trace amounts of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen (NRN) that collects in air pockets above and close to grave-soil. The probe, slightly thicker than a human hair, can be inserted into the ground to detect decaying flesh.

Reference:
Tara M. Lovestead, Thomas J. Bruno. Detecting gravesoil with headspace analysis with adsorption on short porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns. Forensic Science International, 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.05.024

Study Questions

1. What is meant by the term ambient temperature?
2. What is the other major use for ninhydrin in forensic science?
3. Could this probe be used to distinguish between a human cadaver and a dead, decaying rat? Explain your answer.
4. Why do you think cadaver-sniffing dogs might not be useful if a body is buried under concrete?
5. Imagine you have been asked to set up an experiment to determine the effectiveness of this technique at different stages of decomposition. Describe how you would do this.