Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures

Detection of buried archaeological remains based on identification of archaeological proxies, such as cropmarks, has been widely used. Nevertheless, physically-based models for such archaeological prospection surveys are still missing from the literature. In this work we present a spectral classific...

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Main Authors: Elias Gravanis, Athos Agapiou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2024-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10811887/
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author Elias Gravanis
Athos Agapiou
author_facet Elias Gravanis
Athos Agapiou
author_sort Elias Gravanis
collection DOAJ
description Detection of buried archaeological remains based on identification of archaeological proxies, such as cropmarks, has been widely used. Nevertheless, physically-based models for such archaeological prospection surveys are still missing from the literature. In this work we present a spectral classification criterion procedure for the detection of buried archaeological remains (cropmarks) using remote sensing techniques, in particular top-of-canopy hyperspectral data. The criterion is built by using (1) the radiative transfer model PROSAIL in inverse and forward mode to produce physically-based simulations of spectral signatures of an observed cropmark dataset captured from an artificial test-field, and (2) machine-learning methods (decision trees) to identify the highest importance wavelengths and the associated classification thresholds. This is done by statistically analyzing different simulated dataset size (synthetic hyperspectral image size) and different contents in signatures affected by buried ‘remains’ relatively to healthy crop signatures. The analysis of the results does indeed allow the formulation of a well-performing criterion, with above 70% detection rate in test synthetic datasets. Our findings show that the physical reduction of the degrees of freedom forming cropmarks plays a significant role in their modelling and successful detection. The underlying hypotheses and issues, as well as the generalizability potential of the method in different conditions are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-57b1ca6f0c79421288d15d17a421dee92024-12-31T00:01:01ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362024-01-011219721719723210.1109/ACCESS.2024.352104710811887Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral SignaturesElias Gravanis0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5331-6661Athos Agapiou1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9106-6766Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, CyprusDepartment of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, CyprusDetection of buried archaeological remains based on identification of archaeological proxies, such as cropmarks, has been widely used. Nevertheless, physically-based models for such archaeological prospection surveys are still missing from the literature. In this work we present a spectral classification criterion procedure for the detection of buried archaeological remains (cropmarks) using remote sensing techniques, in particular top-of-canopy hyperspectral data. The criterion is built by using (1) the radiative transfer model PROSAIL in inverse and forward mode to produce physically-based simulations of spectral signatures of an observed cropmark dataset captured from an artificial test-field, and (2) machine-learning methods (decision trees) to identify the highest importance wavelengths and the associated classification thresholds. This is done by statistically analyzing different simulated dataset size (synthetic hyperspectral image size) and different contents in signatures affected by buried ‘remains’ relatively to healthy crop signatures. The analysis of the results does indeed allow the formulation of a well-performing criterion, with above 70% detection rate in test synthetic datasets. Our findings show that the physical reduction of the degrees of freedom forming cropmarks plays a significant role in their modelling and successful detection. The underlying hypotheses and issues, as well as the generalizability potential of the method in different conditions are discussed.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10811887/Archaeological prospectionarchaeological proxiescropmarksdecision treeshybrid methodhyperspectral image
spellingShingle Elias Gravanis
Athos Agapiou
Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
IEEE Access
Archaeological prospection
archaeological proxies
cropmarks
decision trees
hybrid method
hyperspectral image
title Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
title_full Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
title_fullStr Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
title_full_unstemmed Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
title_short Physically-Based Detection Algorithm of Buried Archaeological Remains Using Spectral Signatures
title_sort physically based detection algorithm of buried archaeological remains using spectral signatures
topic Archaeological prospection
archaeological proxies
cropmarks
decision trees
hybrid method
hyperspectral image
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10811887/
work_keys_str_mv AT eliasgravanis physicallybaseddetectionalgorithmofburiedarchaeologicalremainsusingspectralsignatures
AT athosagapiou physicallybaseddetectionalgorithmofburiedarchaeologicalremainsusingspectralsignatures