Localization of structures under the forest canopy through three-dimensional imagery acquired with remote sensing

Abstract

Numerous ancient cultures in Mexico (e.g., Maya, Zapotec, Olmec, etc.) disappeared, leaving behind their legacy. These cultures inherited temples and archaeological remains, discovered in some cases by chance or through scientific expeditions. Most of the discovered structures were covered by vegetation layers, which made them very difficult to identify. By instance, Mexico’s south-east, where the Mayan culture settled, is known for being a densely forested area. The tropical forest ‘Selva Lacandona’ is located in this region. Consequently, this work suggests using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tomography (TomoSAR), as a technique for searching structures under the forest canopy. TomoSAR retrieves three-dimensional imagery from illuminated scenes. When an adequate wavelength is chosen (i.e., L-, P-band), TomoSAR detects the several vegetation layers in forested areas and the topography beneath. Furthermore, TomoSAR is also capable of locating structures hidden under the forest canopy, which could be the case of ancient temples or archaeological vestiges.