Space based remote sensing applications for archaeology

摘要

Remote sensing is the science of gathering information about objects from measurements, made at a distance, without coming into physical contact with the objects under study. Remote sensing whether from ground, aerial and space platform has indeed brought a whole new persepective to archaeological research. They have made possible to "see" the evidences that are not observable otherwise. Usage and interpretations of imagery taken from aerial or space platform for archaeological purposes have been explored in many parts of the world. This paper explores applications of space based stereo imaging for archaeological prospection with three case studies: Badami and Mahabalipuram in India and Qin's Mausolium in china. 3D visualization and virtual reconstructions of landscape is a valuable tool for archaeological study. This papers also explores how 3D models can be further extended to study visibility in a landscape and also analyse topography and flooding dynamics.