Is there a sensor that can be used for detecting a dead human body?

You cannot locate a dead body by heat signals, unless it's freshly deceased. If that's what you're looking for, look up heat sensors.

To find a dead body with little to no heat signal, more than 6 hours after death, it's my understanding the body passes off a number of noxious gasses that causes a bad odor, including cadaverine and putrescine. While I'm not a chemist, but can hopefully help point you in the right direction, if you know one that can tell you what compounds may coincide with those.

Also, WHICH sensor you're using depends on application, like if you're wearing or carrying the gear, if it's automated or remote controlled, etc. This changes if it should resist humidity, and other factors.

You cannot locate a dead body by heat signals, unless it's freshly deceased. If that's what you're looking for, look up heat sensors.

To find a dead body with little to no heat signal, more than 6 hours after death, it's my understanding the body passes off a number of noxious gasses that causes a bad odor, including cadaverine and putrescine. While I'm not a chemist, but can hopefully help point you in the right direction, if you know one that can tell you what compounds may coincide with those.

Also, WHICH sensor you're using depends on application, like if you're wearing or carrying the gear, if it's automated or remote controlled, etc. This changes if it should resist humidity, and other factors.

Is it possible to detect a human being trapped under a 10 inch concrete? if so what kind of sensor is used?

As ever with such problems it is best to stick with the classic sequence of Ready, Aim, Fire

Most of the discussion above seems to be based on  a Ready Fire Aim sequence which almost never works

First the spec:

Detect dead body, how old, from how far, obscured by what (nothing -> concrete (and is that concrete poured (we are looking for Mafia victims) or in lumps (earthquake victims)) etc

When you have defined what you want to do, you can start to develop a solution.

Often it's best to look at examples of systems that work - my dog would use her nose, a vulture would use its eyes, each is an optimal solution for different body searching demands.

MK

"a vulture would use its eyes"

vultures appear to rely on using smell according to this presentation:

https://www.ted.com/talks/lauren_pharr_how_vultures_can_help_us_solve_crimes/transcript?language=en

they don't appear to be able to detect the corpse that quickly though according to this study: 

https://phys.org/news/2012-03-forensics-texas-focuses-vultures.html

michaelkellett  wrote:

 

As ever with such problems it is best to stick with the classic sequence of Ready, Aim, Fire

 

> concrete (and is that concrete poured (we are looking for Mafia victims) ...

 

MK

niche product: boot-shaped-concrete detector for river beds ...

Ted may not be the optimum authority on Vultures:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/do-vultures-find-dead-animals-by-smell-or-by-tracking-predators-or-scavengers-on-the-groun…

MK

Indeed. However that article would appear to support the TED talk in that turkey vultures rely on smell, but it appears to be unique to that bird with other vultures appearing to rely on vision.

Micropower impulse radar can theoretically detect heartbeats through concrete, but you need a very stable platform.