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SARTI's Proof-of-Concept Experiment: Detection of Skeletal Remains Using UV ALS
SARTI's Proof-of-Concept Experiment: Detection of Skeletal Remains Using UV ALS
On November 10–11, 2023, Russell and Pyaett of Search and Rescue Tracking Institute conducted a proof-of-concept experiment to investigate whether ultraviolet alternate light sources could improve the detection of surface-scattered skeletal remains.
Searchers were restricted to 5-minutes on the trail to detect as many bones as possible while a proctor shadowed them and recorded their results.
The results were striking.
Search condition: Detection rate
White light at night: 15%
Daylight: 30%
UV light at night: 73%
The experiment provided the initial field evidence that nighttime UV searching could substantially improve the detection of surface-scattered skeletal remains compared with conventional searching.
This experiment became part of a continuing effort to evaluate ALS as a practical search tool.
Sweep Width Experiments Using Ultraviolet ALS
Sweep Width Experiments Using Ultraviolet ALS
In 2024, Jim Russell and Robert Koester conducted experiments to determine the effectiveness of ultraviolet alternate light sources in detecting surface-scattered skeletal remains.
The results of the experiment identified that surface-scattered skeletal remains could be detected up to 6 times further away at night using UV ALS than searching during daylight hours.
Assessing the Effectiveness of ALS in the Search for Skeletal Remains
Assessing the Effectiveness of ALS in the Search for Skeletal Remains
Thompson, et al, in a collaborative study involving the Search and Rescue Tracking Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University, directed searchers certified by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to conduct 36 mock searches comparing the effectiveness of alternate light sources under common field conditions.
Thompson concluded that nighttime ALS searches recovered substantially more skeletal remains than daylight searches and were completed in less time.
Among the devices tested, the violet Crime-lite® operating at 395–425 nm produced the highest recovery rate, locating 95% of the remains in the study.
These results provide experimental evidence that ALS can improve the detection of surface-scattered skeletal remains.
Detecting Scattered Human Skeletal Remains with an Alternate Light Source: Case Studies
Detecting Scattered Human Skeletal Remains with an Alternate Light Source: Case Studies
Published in the Journal of Forensic Identification (2026), this study documents the use of ultraviolet alternate light sources (ALS) to locate surface-scattered human skeletal remains at 12 sites across Virginia.
Search & Rescue Tracking Institute (SARTI) used UV light during nighttime searches to locate additional bones and teeth that had been missed during previous recovery efforts, finding human remains at distances of up to 10 meters from searchers. Across the 12 sites, UV searches recovered additional remains at most locations, including after multiple prior searches and in cases ranging from one month to 10 years after death.
The study demonstrates that UV light can increase the visual contrast of skeletal material against its surroundings and can be a valuable complementary search tool, particularly after remains have already been discovered. The authors also document important limitations, including fluorescence from animal bones, vegetation and other materials, and reduced detection when remains are covered by soil, leaves, snow, or sediment.
Additional References:
Additional References:
Bachman, C., Ellis, E. Fluorescence of Bone. Nature 206, 1328–1331 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/2061328a0.
Brown T.E. and Christensen A.M. (2018) Using an Alternate Light Source (ALS) to Search for Surface Deposited Skeletal Remains. Forensic Anthropology, 1(1), 68-73.
Craig, EA; Vezaro, N. Use of an alternate light source to locate bone and tooth fragments. J Forensic Identi 1998;48:451-457.
Gallant A. Alternate light sources in the detection of bone after an accelerated fire: a pilot study. J Forensic Sci 2013;58(S1):S221-6.
Lucia, J., Simmons, T., Russell, J. A., Stockman, S., & Swall, J. (n.d.). Evaluation of the use of alternate light sources in the search for burned skeletal remains (Master’s thesis, Virginia Commonwealth University). Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Miranda GE, Melani RF, Francisquini Junior L, Daruge Junior E. Use of an alternate light source to detect tooth and bone. Braz Dent J. 2017;28(1):78–81. 10.1590/0103-6440201700892.
Swaraldahab, Mohamed A.H. , Christensen, Angie M. The Effect of Time on Bone Fluorescence Implications for Using Alternate Light Sources to Search for Skeletal Remains. J Forensic Sci, Marck 2016, Vol. 61, No. 2.
Tzaphlidou M. Bone architecture: collagen structure and calcium/phosphorus maps. J Biol Phys. 2008 Apr;34(1-2):39-49. doi: 10.1007/s10867-008-9115-y. Epub 2008 Oct 15. PMID: 19669491; PMCID: PMC2577747.
Interesting Articles:
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Reflection of ultraviolet radiation from different skin types
Luminescence of thermally altered human skeletal remains
Original Ultraviolet Light posting: September 17, 2023 Updated: September 28, 2026
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