Detection and 3D Modeling of Potential Buried Archaeological Structures Using WorldView-3 Satellite Imagery

Abstract

Throughout the world, cultural heritage sites are under the direct threat of damage or destruction due to developing environmental and anthropogenic hazards, such as urban expansion, looting, and rising water levels. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that many of the most vulnerable sites’ exact locations and/or full spatial extents have yet to be uncovered, making any attempts at their protection exceedingly difficult. However, the utilization of earth observation data has recently emerged as an unmatched tool in the exploration and (digital) preservation of endangered archaeological sites. The presented research employs very high-resolution WorldView-3 satellite imagery (~30 cm) for identifying and delineating previously unknown subsurface archaeological structures at the ancient Egyptian site of Hermopolis (el-Ashmunein). A particular emphasis is placed on the application of spectral indices, specifically those looking at vegetation cropmarks and iron oxide levels. Through this analysis, seven promising structures were identified, including three elongated installations, which may have been utilized for storage purposes, and a potential casemate foundation structure. As 2D outlines of structures are often difficult to visualize, the newly identified archaeological features were expanded into a realistic, georeferenced 3D model using the computer programs, SketchUp Pro and Chaos V-Ray. The goal of this 3D model is to ensure that the results derived from this research are more accessible (and tangible) to a wider audience—the scientific community and the public alike. The methodological scheme presented in this article is highly adaptable and with some minor modifications can be replicated for other archaeological sites worldwide.

Water Heritage in the Rural Hinterland Landscapes of the UNESCO Alto Douro Wine Region, Portugal: A Digital Humanities Approach

“…The digital humanities and the domain, even if not very deep, of the available resources and tools, especially open-source resources, allow us, if used well and with good practice guides [11,14,[35][36][37], to obtain a quite significant perception of the area under study and, evidently, as already mentioned, a less abstract structuring of the reality.…”

An Overview of GIS-RS Applications for Archaeological and Cultural Heritage under the DBAR-Heritage Mission

“…This led to an unprecedented surge in the development of remote sensing archaeology. Sub-meter optical/SAR image data from sources like CORONA [149][150][151], IKONOS [152], QuickBird [153], GeoEye-2 [154,155], SPOT-6/7 [156], WorldView-2/3/4 [157], Pleiades-1/2, Gaofen-2 [158], Radarsat-2, Ter-raSAR/TanDEM [159,160], COSMO-SkyMed [161][162][163], and ALOS-PALSAR-2 [164,165] have become favored resources for remote sensing archaeologists. High-resolution optical remote sensing images, known for their rich detail and precision, are widely used to meet the demands of fine identification in archaeological site detection and investigation.…”

Bibliometric Analysis of Spatial Technology for World Heritage: Application, Trend and Potential Paths

“…These technologies enable the collection, analysis and visualization of data related to the physical and cultural characteristics of heritage sites [12][13][14][15]. This information can be used for a variety of purposes, including (1) site mapping and documentation; GIS can be used to create detailed maps of heritage sites, including topographical, geospatial and historical data [16][17][18][19]. The incorporation of remote sensing data and 3D visualization technology allows for better reproduction of the realistic details and spatial environment of the site [20][21][22].…”