Home | About Us | Join the Society | Community Forums | Investigating Ghosts
Member Articles | Publications | Amazon Shops | Events | In the Media | Contact Us | Links
| Investigating Ghosts: Investigation Methods | ||
|
Investigating Ghosts Menu » Introduction » Investigation Methods » OWNE Protocols » OWNE Casebook » OWNE Investigation Team » OWNE Client List » Request an Information Pack » Contact Us » The Law » Classification System |
The Otherworld North East Investigation Team's aim is to collate and s
» Skip to Electromagnetic Field Survey |
|
|
Electromagnetic Field Survey (EMF Survey)
Temperature and Humidity Survey
The Otherworld North East Investigation Team have the following guidelines to running an investigation and stick to a rigid series of protocols. A typical investigation will include::
The presumption that ghosts only come out at night was perpetrated in the Victorian period by the Spiritualist movement - or rather by the Spirit Mediums who required darkness or red light to hide their dishonest methods. The myth has remained in place, and is now upheld by the media with its numerous ghost hunting shows. Where possible OWNE seek to undertake investigations during the daytime periods phenomena is reported, not just at night. Sometimes however, especially in public buildings, it is indeed necessary to undertake fieldwork when no one else is present, thus usually at night. However, where possible if is hoped that the venues involved will provide adequate lighting, and night-vision technologies will only be utilised during experiments or as a last resort. Standard equipment used during Field Investigations includes the following:
« Back to top » |
||
|
||
tudy data associated with alleged hauntings and ghost sightings, and where possible to rule out man-made or natural influences that may have caused 'anomalous' phenomena. The following section gives a brief introduction to the methods and equipment involved in a field investigation, followed by a brief run-down of a standard investigation. 
Electromagnetic surveys measure an area’s electromagnetic fields (EMFs). An EM Field is produced by all electrically charged objects (such as TVs, computers, power lines, light switches etc), and in turn affects the behaviour of all charged objects within the perimeter of the field. Though the scientific community jury is still out on this, it is thought that strong EMFs can cause headaches, tiredness, emotional imbalances and even vision problems and hallucinations. Importantly, EMFs can also cause distortion in recording equipment, especially equipment using magnetic tapes or batteries, so it is very important on an investigation to know where strong man-made fields lie. In the 1770s, German physician and astrologist Franz Anton Mesmer intoduced the theory of magnétisme animal to the unsuspecting and disbelieving world. Mesmer believed, due to his scientific work with magnetism, that all living beings had within them a ‘magnetic force’, otherwise known at the time as ‘mineral magnetism’, ‘cosmic magnetism’ and ‘planetary magnetism’. This was the birth of the theory that ghosts and spirits are the magnétisme animal of a deceased person, with ‘cosmic magnetism’ translated into modern language as ‘electromagnetic field’. From this it is also suggested that the meters we use to detect man-made fields can also detect the presence of ghosts, but no real proof of this has ever been recorded (though as investigators we still live in hope!). OWNE utilise three types of meter on a regular basis: the Spectral Electronics’ 2G EMF meter (reading frequencies around 1kHz), the CellSensor meter (calibrated around 835 MHz) and the ever popular Gauss Meter (reading frequencies between 50-60Hz).
Temperature fluctuations, specifically cold spots, are perhaps the most common phenomenon associated with ghosts and hauntings. Since encounters with spirits in Roman times, the sudden cold and frosting of the breath has been known as a sign of a ghostly presence. Of course, in our rational times, if we take a ghost to be a form of energy (as is surmised by most investigators) then we can work temperature change into the laws of physics, specifically thermodynamics. The Law of Thermodynamics details the conversion of energy into work and heat: the theory is that a ghost uses this to draw energy (heat) out of the air itself in order to perform a task, such as making a noise or moving something, a theory that many attest to due to the sudden rise in temperature (hot spot) that sometimes occurs after a cold spot has been detected. This fits with thermodynamics when the energy is expunged as heat as a by-product of the work being done. Four separate forms of temperature experiments are performed by OWNE, the first being ambient temperature. Ambient temperature surveys record the change in a room’s air temperature over a period of time, recording the minimum and maximum temperatures achieved. Immediate ambient temperatures can be recorded using the same method and also by the use of temperature probes in the air. Spot temperatures are useful to take on walls, doors or floors, using either a probe or a non-contact temperature gun. These spot checks can pinpoint possible environmental contamination areas, such as breezes or drafts, and can also pinpoint areas being affected by a thermal reaction of some form. Team spot temperatures are the third survey performed, where the external body temperature of an investigator is monitored, usually using a non-contact temperature gun. These surveys are performed to check to see if an environmental anomaly is reacting with the investigator in question, and can be very useful during kinetic experiments such as dowsing, or when an investigator is feeling the effects of a given atmosphere. The fourth temperature survey is via Data Logger, capable of measuring temperature and humidity every 10 seconds for up to 48 hours. This data is collected after an investigation and compared and contrasted to any other temperature related results. Where possible, humidity (water content of the air) readings are taken in conjunction with temperature readings to act as a control: if humidity readings are fluctuating at the same time as temperature, then there’s a good chance that any anomalies are being caused by a breeze or similar environmental contaminant.
Most OWNE experiments are conducted in the dark as vigils are held mostly at night when the venues are at their quietest and external corruption of the experiments at its least likely. Each investigator carries at least one torch, and some use nightvision video. Light levels in each location can also be monitored using the light multimeter. Spikes in light levels can also be recorded using temperature-reading facilities, using the principle that an increase in light is often accompanied by an energy release of heat. Different colours and wavelengths of light are sometimes utilised to see if they effect a change on the environment (such as red, blue, green or intermittent flashing lights). Venues are also photographed using a number of different makes and models of digital camera, from DSLR to compact (ranging from 2 to 8 megapixels). These are taken free-standing and also using a tripod. All photographs are checked carefully for any anomalies, though the main purpose of the photography is to provide a visual record of the investigation. A stand-alone record is taken, and time-lapse experiments are also often used. Investigations are also recorded using a variety of camcorders, complete with night vision video and infra-red enhancers, as well as a CCTV system.
Ambient sound levels will be recorded in each area to check for sound levels that can potentially alter an investigator’s perceptions. OWNE also use Mega-Ear units linked to digital dictaphones to to listen to and record Hi and Low Frequency sounds, usually inaudible to the human ear. This method can also be linked into Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recording. The venue being investigated will be tested for incoming and outgoing radio frequencies. Any communication devices used by the investigators will be tested with this device prior to the investigation starting. The detectors used by OWNE operate in the range of 50mhz to 3.00ghz. EVPs are sounds and voices caught on digital or analogue sound recording equipment, not audible to the human ear. OWNE perform two forms of EVP experiments, the first being audio-only, when an investigator uses either physical audio enhancers or the audio enhancing capabilities of the Spectral Electronics 2G EMF meter. The second method is audio-recorded, when a sound recording device is used to physically record the sound onto analogue tape or digital media. The latter experiment is often accompanied by an attempt by the investigator to audibly contact or interact with potential entities, and the equipment can also be linked to mega-ear hardware so that Low and High Frequency sound can also be recorded. OWNE also now utilise boundary microphones, linked wirelessly to a laptop or desktop computer to provide 100% sound recording of a location during an investigation.
Trigger Objects are one of the kinetic experiments used by OWNE. In this experiment an item is carefully drawn around and left in a location, to be checked later to see if it has moved. Items include coins, keys, dice and some prefer to use emotive items such as crucifixes. In some cases when investigating an alleged entity from a specific period, then items from that period are used where possible (sherds of Roman or medieval pottery, or World War I bullets for example). Trigger objects are often used in Lock-Off Experiments. Lock-Offs are a form of controlled experiment, where one or more video recorders are set up in a locked room and left to run. The footage is then analysed afterwards to see if anything has been caught on camera. Trigger Objects are often used as a target for these cameras.
Website Design and Content © Otherworld North East Research Society unless otherwise stated.
All authors and photographers retain copyright of their work.
If you are having any problems with this website, please contact the site Webmaster.