Automated Resistivity Profiling (ARP) to Explore Wide Archaeological Areas: The Prehistoric Site of Mont’e Prama, Sardinia, Italy

This paper deals with the resistivity continuous surveys on extensive area carried out at the Mont’e Prama archaeological site, in Sardinia (Italy). From 2013 to 2015, new research was performed using both non-destructive surveys and traditional archaeological excavations. The measurements were done in order to find geophysical anomalies related to unseen buried archaeological remains and to define the spatial extension of the ancient necropolis. The electrical resistivity of soils was measured by means of the Automated Resistivity Profiling (ARP©) system. This multi-pole method provided high-resolution maps of electrical resistivity in the whole investigated area using a computer-assisted acquisition tool, towed by a small vehicle. Through this acquisition layout, a surface of 22,800 m2 was covered. The electrical resistivity data were derived in real time with centimetric horizontal precision through a differential GPS positioning system. Thanks to the simultaneous acquisition of ARP and GPS data, the rigorous georeferencing of the tridimensional experimental dataset was made possible, as well as the reconstruction of a detailed Digital Terrain Model. Here, the experimental results are analyzed and critically discussed by means of the integration of the results obtained by a high-resolution prospection performed with a multi-channel Ground Penetrating Radar system and taking into account other information derived from previous geological and archaeological studies. Geophysical results, jointly with topographic reconstruction, clearly permitted the identification of more interesting areas where future archaeological investigations could be focused.

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Integrated data analysis at an archaeological site: A case study using 3D GPR, magnetic, and high-resolution topographic data

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/1.3460432 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. B169-B176 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Urs Böniger ◽

Jens Tronicke

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Data Acquisition ◽

Digital Terrain Model ◽

Positional Information ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Geophysical Data ◽

Integrated Analysis ◽

Topographic Data ◽

3D Gpr ◽

Difficult Terrain

We have collected magnetic, 3D ground-penetrating-radar (GPR), and topographic data at an archaeological site within the Palace Garden of Paretz, Germany. The survey site covers an area of approximately [Formula: see text] across a hill structure (dips of up to 15°) that is partly covered by trees. The primary goal of this study was to detect and locate the remains of ancient architectural elements, which, from historical records, were expected to be buried in the subsurface at this site. To acquire our geophysical data, we used a recently developed surveying approach that combines the magnetic and GPR instrument with a tracking total station (TTS). Besides efficient data acquisition, this approach provides positional information at an accuracy within the centimeter range. At the Paretz field site, this information was critical for processing and analyzing our geophysical data (in particular, GPR data) and enabled us to generate a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) of the surveyed area. Integrated analysis and interpretation based on composite images of the magnetic, 3D GPR, and high-resolution DTM data as well as selected attributes derived from these data sets allowed us to outline the remains of an artificial grotto and temple. Our work illustrates the benefit of using multiple surveying technologies, analyzing and interpreting the resulting data in an integrated fashion. It further demonstrates how modern surveying solutions allow for efficient, accurate data acquisition even in difficult terrain.

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Mapping and Monitoring of the Land Use/Cover Changes in the Wider Area of ltanos, Crete, Using Very High Resolution EO Imagery With Specific Interest in Archaeological Sites

10.31219/osf.io/3vrth ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sawyer Reid stippa ◽

George Petropoulos ◽

Leonidas Toulios ◽

Prashant K. Srivastava

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Spatial Resolution ◽

Satellite Images ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Digital Photography ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Large Area ◽

High Resolution Imagery ◽

Site Mapping ◽

Rule Sets

Archaeological site mapping is important for both understanding the history as well as protecting them from excavation during the developmental activities. As archaeological sites generally spread over a large area, use of high spatial resolution remote sensing imagery is becoming increasingly applicable in the world. The main objective of this study was to map the land cover of the Itanos area of Crete and of its changes, with specific focus on the detection of the landscape’s archaeological features. Six satellite images were acquired from the Pleiades and WorldView-2 satellites over a period of 3 years. In addition, digital photography of two known archaeological sites was used for validation. An Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA) classification was subsequently developed using the five acquired satellite images. Two rule-sets were created, one using the standard four bands which both satellites have and another for the two WorldView-2 images their four extra bands included. Validation of the thematic maps produced from the classification scenarios confirmed a difference in accuracy amongst the five images. Comparing the results of a 4-band rule-set versus the 8-band showed a slight increase in classification accuracy using extra bands. The resultant classifications showed a good level of accuracy exceeding 70%. Yet, separating the archaeological sites from the open spaces with little or no vegetation proved challenging. This was mainly due to the high spectral similarity between rocks and the archaeological ruins. The satellite data spatial resolution allowed for the accuracy in defining larger archaeological sites, but still was a difficulty in distinguishing smaller areas of interest. The digital photography data provided a very good 3D representation for the archaeological sites, assisting as well in validating the satellite-derived classification maps. All in all, our study provided further evidence that use of high resolution imagery may allow for archaeological sites to be located, but only where they are of a suitable size archaeological features.

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Ultra-High-Resolution 1 m/pixel CaSSIS DTM Using Super-Resolution Restoration and Shape-from-Shading: Demonstration over Oxia Planum on Mars

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13112185 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2185

Author(s):

Yu Tao ◽

Sylvain Douté ◽

Jan-Peter Muller ◽

Susan J. Conway ◽

Nicolas Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

3D Reconstruction ◽

Imaging System ◽

Processing System ◽

Digital Terrain Model ◽

Super Resolution ◽

Landing Site ◽

Shape From Shading ◽

Stereo Pair ◽

Terrain Model

We introduce a novel ultra-high-resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) processing system using a combination of photogrammetric 3D reconstruction, image co-registration, image super-resolution restoration, shape-from-shading DTM refinement, and 3D co-alignment methods. Technical details of the method are described, and results are demonstrated using a 4 m/pixel Trace Gas Orbiter Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) panchromatic image and an overlapping 6 m/pixel Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Context Camera (CTX) stereo pair to produce a 1 m/pixel CaSSIS Super-Resolution Restoration (SRR) DTM for different areas over Oxia Planum on Mars—the future ESA ExoMars 2022 Rosalind Franklin rover’s landing site. Quantitative assessments are made using profile measurements and the counting of resolvable craters, in comparison with the publicly available 1 m/pixel High-Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) DTM. These assessments demonstrate that the final resultant 1 m/pixel CaSSIS DTM from the proposed processing system has achieved comparable and sometimes more detailed 3D reconstruction compared to the overlapping HiRISE DTM.

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Inorganic Plume Delineation Using Surface High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity at the BC Cribs and Trenches Site, Hanford

Vadose Zone Journal ◽

10.2136/vzj2006.0169 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 946-958 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Dale F. Rucker ◽

James B. Fink

Keyword(s):

Electrical Resistivity ◽

High Resolution

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Google Earth Engine as Multi-Sensor Open-Source Tool for Supporting the Preservation of Archaeological Areas: The Case Study of Flood and Fire Mapping in Metaponto, Italy

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21051791 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 1791

Author(s):

Carmen Fattore ◽

Nicodemo Abate ◽

Farid Faridani ◽

Nicola Masini ◽

Rosa Lasaponara

Keyword(s):

Open Source ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Unsupervised Classification ◽

Google Earth ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Cultural Properties ◽

Google Earth Engine ◽

Archaeological Areas ◽

The Impact

In recent years, the impact of Climate change, anthropogenic and natural hazards (such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, fires) has dramatically increased and adversely affected modern and past human buildings including outstanding cultural properties and UNESCO heritage sites. Research about protection/monitoring of cultural heritage is crucial to preserve our cultural properties and (with them also) our history and identity. This paper is focused on the use of the open-source Google Earth Engine tool herein used to analyze flood and fire events which affected the area of Metaponto (southern Italy), near the homonymous Greek-Roman archaeological site. The use of the Google Earth Engine has allowed the supervised and unsupervised classification of areas affected by flooding (2013–2020) and fire (2017) in the past years, obtaining remarkable results and useful information for setting up strategies to mitigate damage and support the preservation of areas and landscape rich in cultural and natural heritage.

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KSpaceNavigator as a tool for computer-assisted sample tilting in high-resolution imaging, tomography and defect analysis

Ultramicroscopy ◽

10.1016/j.ultramic.2011.08.003 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 111 (11) ◽

pp. 1574-1580 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

T. Duden ◽

A. Gautam ◽

U. Dahmen

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

High Resolution Imaging ◽

Defect Analysis ◽

Resolution Imaging

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Electrical Resistivity and Soil Studies at Orendorf Archaeological Site, Illinois: a Case Study

Journal of Field Archaeology ◽

10.1179/009346981791505030 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 167-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. S. Klasner ◽

P. Calengas

Keyword(s):

Electrical Resistivity ◽

Archaeological Site

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) time-lapse monitoring of the instability processes affecting Varano Hill: A case study of the ancient Roman site of Villa Arianna

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-1110 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Renato Somma ◽

Alfredo Trocciola ◽

Daniele Spizzichino ◽

Alessandro Fedele ◽

Gabriele Leoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Spatial Data ◽

Morphological Evolution ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Pilot Project ◽

Time Lapse ◽

3D Models ◽

Slope Instability ◽

Test Case ◽

Slope Instabilities

The archaeological site of Villa Arianna - located on Varano Hill, south of Vesuvius - offer tantalizing information regarding first-century AD resilience to hydrogeological risk. Additionally, the site provides an important test case for mitigation efforts of current and future geo-hazard. Villa Arianna, notable in particular for its wall frescoes, is part of a complex of Roman villas built between 89 BC and AD 79 in the ancient coastal resort area of Stabiae. This villa complex is located on a morphological terrace that separates the ruins from the present-day urban center of Castellammare di Stabia. The Varano hill is formed of alternating pyroclastic deposits, from the Vesuvius Complex, and alluvial sediments, from the Sarno River. The area, in AD 79, was completely covered by PDCs from the Plinian eruption of Vesuvius. Due to the geomorphological structure the slope is prone to slope instability phenomena that are mainly represented by earth and debris flows, usually triggered by heavy rainfall. The susceptibility is worsened by changes in hydraulic and land-use conditions mainly caused by lack of maintenance of mitigation works. Villa Arianna is the subject of a joint pilot project of the INGV-ENEA-ISPRA that includes non-invasive monitoring techniques such as the use of UAVs to study the areas of the slope at higher risk of instability. The project, in particular, seeks to implement innovative mitigation solutions that are non-destructive to the cultural heritage. UAVs represent the fastest way to produce high-resolution 3D models of large sites and allow archaeologists to collect accurate spatial data that can be used for 3D GIS analyses. Through this pilot project, we have used detailed 3D models and high-resolution ortho-images for new analyses and documentation of the site and to map the slope instabilities that threatens the Villa Arianna site. Through multi-temporal analyses of different data acquisitions, we intend to define the detailed morphological evolution of the entire Varano slope. These analyses will allow us to highlight priority areas for future low-impact mitigation interventions.

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Volcanoes geological mapping and structural geology with UAS High Resolution Digital Terrain Model : the Kuei-Shan Tao case example (Eastern Taiwan).

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-7015 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Benoit Deffontaines ◽

Kuo-Jen Chang ◽

Samuel Magalhaes ◽

Gérardo Fortunato

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Okinawa Trough ◽

Volcanic Rocks ◽

Digital Terrain Model ◽

Structural Features ◽

Point Of View ◽

Geological Mapping ◽

Lava Flows ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

Structural Scheme

Volcanic areas in the World are often difficult to map especially in a structural point of view as (1) fault planes are generally covered and filled by more recent lava flows and (2) volcanic rocks have very few tectonic striations. Kuei-Shan Tao (11km from Ilan Plain &#8211; NE Taiwan) is a volcanic island, located at the soutwestern tip of the South Okinawa trough (SWOT). Two incompatible geological maps had been already published both lacking faults and structural features (Hsu, 1963 and Chiu et al., 2010). We propose herein not only to up-date the Kuei-Shan Tao geological map with our high resolution dataset, but also to create the Kuei-Shan Tao structural scheme in order to better understand its geological and tectonic history.Consequently, we first acquired aerial photographs from our UAS survey and get our new UAS high resolution DTM (HR UAS-DTM hereafter) with a ground resolution <10cm processed through classical photogrammetric methods. Taking into account common sense geomorphic and structural interpretation and reasoning deduced form our HR UAS-DTM, and the outcropping lithologies situated all along the shoreline, we have up-dated the Kuei-Shan Tao geological mapping and its major structures. To conclude, the lithologies (andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic falls) and the new structural scheme lead us to propose a scenario for both the construction as well as the dismantling of Kuei-Shan Tao which are keys for both geology and geodynamics of the SWOT.

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