CURRENT FORENSIC SCIENCE APPLICATIONS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF DISASTER VICTIMS

AY E. N., GÜLEKÇİ Y.

14. Uluslararası Azerbaycan Fen, Müendislik, Matematik ve Uygulamaları Bilimler Kongresi, Baku, Azerbaijan, 26 - 27 March 2026, (Full Text)

Abstract

Disasters are natural, technological, or human-induced mass events in which a large number of individuals are killed or injured. In such incidents, the accurate and timely identification of deceased individuals and the return of their remains to their families are of great importance for reducing uncertainty, maintaining public trust, and ensuring the proper functioning of legal processes. However, the complexity of the event, the high number of victims, and the large volume of data complicate data management during the identification process.

The fragmented and decomposed condition of bodies may render traditional identification methods insufficient. Particularly in degraded samples, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based systems and other advanced genetic approaches may provide more informative results when conventional STR analysis is limited. In addition, technological advancements such as field-based and non-invasive radiological procedures, digital systems for fingerprint matching, and compact portable versions of routine laboratory instruments support the identification workflow. Furthermore, the application of artificial intelligence in image matching and database searches contributes significantly to the effective management of large-scale data sets.

Accordingly, the identification of disaster victims requires sensitive techniques capable of producing highly accurate results from limited and/or degraded biological material. Although artificial intelligence-based systems provide substantial advantages in large-scale data management and comparison processes, final evaluation and decision-making still require human expertise and multidisciplinary scientific validation.