The BC Coroners Service developed an enhanced identification GIS model to integrate data from multiple databases and improve identification of human remains. The model pulls data from dental, DNA, missing persons, and archaeological databases into a centralized identification-GIS database. Key details like location, date found, clothing, and biological characteristics are recorded to enable comparisons between missing persons and unidentified remains cases. Since implementation in 2013, the number of unresolved unidentified human remains cases has decreased by an average of 6% per year.

1. CONNECT. TRANSFORM. AUTOMATE.
BC Coroners Service Enhanced
Identification GIS Model
Randy Dalit
GIS Analyst

2. Background

3. BC Coroners Service
! Investigates all unnatural, sudden and
unexpected, unexplained or unattended deaths
! The Coroner determines: the identity of the
deceased; how, when, where and by what means
the deceased died
! The death is then classified as natural, accidental,
suicide, homicide or undetermined

4. ! In 2011, the BC Coroners Service
investigated 7828 deaths
BC Coroners Service

5. ! How many suicides were there in 2011?
A. <100
B. 101-200
C. 201-500
D. 501-600
E. >600
BC Coroners Service Question

6. BC Coroners Service Question

7. ! D is correct!
! In 2011, there were 530 suicide deaths in
BC
BC Coroners Service Question

8. ! In 2011, the BC Coroners Service
investigated 7828 deaths:
! 5419 Natural Deaths
! 1594 Accidental Deaths
! 530 Suicide Deaths
! 167 Undetermined Deaths
! 115 Homicide Deaths
BC Coroners Service

10. ! The IDRU provides support and expertise in
identification, disaster response, and business
continuity planning.
! Actively investigates all historical unidentified
human remains cases, dating as far back as the
1960’s.
! There are currently 186 active unidentified
human remains cases that remain unresolved
Identification and Disaster Response Unit

11. Identification and Disaster Response Unit
IDRU
Manager
Iden-fica-on
Specialist
GIS
Analyst
Data
Analyst

12. ! In 2010, the IDRU investigated 102 unidentified
human remain (UHR) cases:
! 73 Archaeological or Non-Human
! 25 Identified
! 4 Remained unidentified
! Since 1950, 186 unidentified human remains
cases are still unresolved
IDRU Case Breakdown

14. BCCS Milestones

15. ! A relational database management system that
integrates 4 provincial databases into a centralized
GIS database:
Enhanced Identification-GIS Model
DNA DB Dental DB MPUB DB
Identification-GIS-DB
FME
Arch DB

16. 1. Databases:
2. Conversion:
3. Outputs:
Technology Breakdown

17. 1. FME pulls information from 4 different provincial
databases into a centralized database
2. FME generates two master outputs:
! ESRI Geodatabase
! Google Earth KML
3. Enables spatial and tabular queries for case
comparisons
How does the ID-GIS Model work?

18. ! Generates leads on unsolved cases
! Provides instant exclusions on potential matches
using case descriptors
! Tracks previously excluded cases
! Enables one-to-many comparisons between
missing person (MP) cases and unidentified
human remains (UHR) cases
Advantages

20. Key Descriptors

21. Key Descriptors
Iden-fica-on
Spa-al:
GPS,
address,
etc.
Temporal:
LSA
date,
found
date,
etc.
Circumstan-al:
Radiographs,
clothing,
etc.
Racial
Affinity:
Caucasoid,
Mongoloid,
etc.
Biological:
Height,
weight,
age,
etc.
Gene-c:
Y-­‐STR,
mtDNA,
nDNA,
etc.

22. “Hikers will travel up to 18.3 km in a temperate mountainous area” –
Koester
Example #1 – Missing Hiker

24. “Scavengers transport remains up to 3.2 km in forested areas” -
Haglund
Example #2 – Found Cranium

26. The IDRU manages an identified partial human remains inventory
in the ID-GIS database, which is used to compare against newly
found unidentified human remains.
Example #3 – Found Mandible

27. Source: BCCS, 2013

28. Source: BCCS, 2013

29. Source: BCCS, 2013

30. Source: BCCS, 2013

31. ! Between 2007-2012, 10 feet have washed
up in BC’s shores. How many have been
identified?
A. 1
B. 2-4
C. 5-7
D. 8-9
E. 10
BC Coroners Service Question

32. BC Coroners Service Question

33. ! D is correct!
! To date, 8 of the 10 feet have been
positively identified to 6 missing person’s
! One individual still remains unidentified…
BC Coroners Service Question

36. Source: BCCS, 2013

37. Source: BCCS, 2013

38. www.CanadasMissing.ca

39. ! The IDRU’s unidentified human remains inventory
has decreased at a steady 6% rate since January
1, 2013
! The BCCS currently has 186 human remains
cases
UHR Cases since FME Implementation

40. UHR Cases since FME Implementation

41. Sources
1. Haglund, W. D. & Reay, D. T. (1993). Problems of Recovering
Partial Human Remains at Different Times and Locations.
Journal of Forensic Sciences. 38, 69-80.
2. Koester, R. J. (2008). Lost Person Behavior. dbS Productions.
3. BC Coroners Service Annual Report (2010). Ministry of
Justice. Web. 14 Jan. 2013. <
http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/reports/docs/
annualreport2010.pdf>
4. Ministry of Justice (2014). BC Coroners Service website. Web.
7 July, 2014. <http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/>

42. Thank You! Questions?
! For more information:
! Randy Dalit
! Geographic Information Systems Analyst
! Identification and Disaster Response Unit
! BC Coroners Service
! Web: pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners
! Email: Randy.Dalit@gov.bc.ca