Step One:

Open app through link provided

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Step Two:

Enter general information. Refer to definitions page for specific information.

 

Step Three:

Enter characteristics of decomposition information. Check each box that applies to the body you are examining. 

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Step Four:

Enter insect characteristics information. Check each box that applies to the body you are examining. 

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Step Five:

Enter vertebrate characteristics information. Check each box that applies to the body you are examining. 

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Step Six:

This allows you to determine the calendar date or range corresponding to an accumulated degree day (ADD) or total body score (TBS) determined from published/currently available methods based on the mean daily temperature of the nearest weather station.

The application automatically compiles information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to locate the nearest weather station and calculate the mean daily temperature until it reaches the accumulated degree days entered, thus providing you with an estimated PMI and corresponding calendar date.

If TBS is selected, the application uses the corrected formula from Hudson et al. (2023) which provides a corrected equation to Megyesi et al. (2005). The full text of the article is available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.1515

The calendar date is based only on temperature data and not on the information entered about the case (to read more about how this project strives to improve upon current methods, click here). geoFOR aims to provide you with PMI estimates in a simpler and faster format.

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You will also receive a prediction of PMI based on a machine learning model. The details of this calculations were presented at a workshop at AAFS 2023 and we are currently working on a manuscript submission.

You will immediately receive an email with the results. 

 

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References:

 

Smith, D. H., Ehrett, C., Weisensee, K., & Tica, C. (2023). Commentary on: Megyesi MS, Nawrocki SP, Haskell NH. Using accumulated degree‐days to estimate the postmortem interval from decomposed human remains. J Forensic Sci. 2005; 50 (3): 618–26. doi: 10.1520/JFS2004017; and Moffatt C, Simmons T, Lynch‐Aird J. An improved equation for TBS and ADD: Establishing a reliable postmortem interval framework for casework and experimental studies. J Forensic Sci. 2016; 61 (Suppl 1): S201–S207. doi: 10.1111/1556‐4029.12931. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 68(1), 355-358.

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​     Need help with Steps Three-Five? Click here!