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SAR for Landscape Archaeology

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Sensing the Past

Part of the book series: Geotechnologies and the Environment ((GEOTECH,volume 16))

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the opportunities that image analysts, archaeologists, and conservation scientists currently have by using space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for purposes of landscape archaeology. The latter in this context is meant as the discipline to study and interpret the anthropogenic impact on past and present landscapes, alongside the environmental and land surface processes that can alter the condition of heritage assets. The benefits of the recent developments in SAR satellite sensors toward higher resolution (up to less than 1 m) and shorter revisiting times (up to a few days) are discussed in relationship to established techniques using the two key SAR parameters—amplitude and phase—to detect subtle archaeological features in modern landscapes, monitor sites, and assess damage in areas of conflict.

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Acknowledgments

TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X imagery of Syrian sites were provided by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) via the TSX-New-Modes-2013 LAN2377 and TDX XTI-HYDR0399 grants. ENVISAT ASAR data over Apamea (Syria) and the Nasca region (Peru) were provided by ESA via the Cat-1 projects id. 28439 and 11073, respectively. Data processing was carried out using GAMMA SAR and Interferometry Software licensed to BGS, NERC. The authors publish with the permission of the Executive Director of BGS, NERC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Environment Research Council, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK

    Deodato Tapete & Francesca Cigna

Authors
  1. Deodato Tapete
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  2. Francesca Cigna
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Correspondence to Deodato Tapete .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. CNR-IBAM Institute of Archaeological and Monumental Heritage, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy

    Nicola Masini

  2. Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (CNR-IREA), Napoli, Italy

    Francesco Soldovieri

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Tapete, D., Cigna, F. (2017). SAR for Landscape Archaeology. In: Masini, N., Soldovieri, F. (eds) Sensing the Past. Geotechnologies and the Environment, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50518-3_5

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