Centrifugal Spiral
Definition
Spiral that starts at the centre of the scene (usually the body) and moves outward. Preferred when the central evidence is fragile and the perimeter is intact.
- Direction
- Centre outward
- Typical start point
- The body or focal evidence item
- Best suited for
- Fragile central evidence, intact perimeter
- Search family
- Spiral search pattern
- Contrast pattern
- Centripetal spiral
Common questions
Why start centrally when the central evidence is fragile?+
Documenting and securing the most fragile, highest-priority evidence first, before searchers move around the scene and risk disturbing it, reduces the chance that later search movement contaminates or degrades that evidence.
When would a centrifugal spiral be a poor choice?+
If the scene perimeter holds evidence at risk from weather, crowds or time, working outward from the centre delays reaching that at-risk material, making a centripetal spiral, which starts at the perimeter, the better choice instead.
Related terms
- Centripetal Spiral
- Spiral that starts at the perimeter and moves inward toward the focus. Preferred when perimeter evidence is at risk from weather or...
- Search Pattern
- The systematic geometric route walked by a dog handler to ensure uniform coverage of the search area. Standard patterns include the ladder...
- Wedge Problem
- Inherent flaw of wheel search: as spokes radiate outward, the unsearched gap between adjacent spokes widens with distance from the centre.
- Zone Overlap
- An explicit protocol requirement that adjacent zones share their boundaries so evidence on the line isn't missed by both teams.