VOC (volatile organic compound)
Definition
Carbon-containing compounds that evaporate readily at ambient temperatures. Decomposing human tissue produces a complex, changing VOC mixture that HRD dogs are trained to detect.
Related terms
- HRD dog
- Human Remains Detection dog: a dog trained to detect and alert on the volatile organic compound signature of decomposing human tissue. Also...
- Passive alert
- A trained response in which the dog sits, lies down, or freezes at the scent source without digging or pawing. Preferred in...
- Scent cone
- The plume of airborne VOC molecules that diffuses upward and downwind from a buried source. A dog working downwind of a buried...
- Search pattern
- The systematic geometric route walked by a dog handler to ensure uniform coverage of the search area. Standard patterns include the ladder...
- Tile probe
- A solid steel rod used to probe suspect ground by hand pressure, detecting resistance changes in disturbed soil and releasing sub-surface gases...
Explained in
- Canine Search and ProbingCarbon-containing compounds that evaporate readily at ambient temperatures. Decomposing human tissue produces a complex, changing VOC mixture that HRD dogs are...