The application of remote sensing technology in the archaeological study of the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang

摘要

A key project within the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) 'Synthetic Archaeological Studies with Remote Sensing and Geophysics Survey' was a comprehensive research carried out on the Mausoleum of the Emperor Qinshihuang (MEQ) (259-210 BC). The project was finished by September 2003. We utilized remote sensing and geophysical survey to probe the characteristics of the surface nature and underground features of the MEQ. We were particularly interested in the underground palace, and hoped to find more information on the historical relic remains at the same time. The remote sensing survey team utilized many kinds of remote sensing methods, such as panchromatic remote sensing, colour infrared remote sensing and hyperspec-tral remote sensing (including one thermal infrared band), combined with testing the ground soil spectrum, temperature, humidity, soil composition, digital mapping and three-dimensional observations. This paper presents the principal achievements of the remote sensing techniques.