Remote Sensing and GIS tools in Landscape Archaeology: All about data

 This is a beginner's guide to use remote sensing (RS) and GIS for Landscape Archaeology.

The aim is to discuss some of the data, tools and study materials that one can use. 

So Lets Begin!!

For example. You have decided to work on a site Lets call this site X.

What kind of data is available about X?  Of course  one will read all the Archaeological report,  Gazetteer, Books, research articles and newspaper articles. 

You can also; use satellite data which are free to download from the following websites:

Google Earth: https://www.google.com/intl/en_in/earth/

USGS Earth Explorer: https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

Bhuvan: https://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/bhuvan_links.php#

Natural Earth: https://www.naturalearthdata.com/

Rome as seen in 1980 CORONA imagery

 In this blog I have downloaded CORONA data of Rome dated 16.9.1980.

Please follow the steps Shown in the following video:

Here is a screenshot for reference . Image no to be downloaded DZB1216-500363L004001

The downloaded folder DZB1216-500363L004001 contains two files.

1. DZB1216-500363L004001_a

2. DZB1216-500363L004001_b

Open both Images in QGIS by clicking on ADD RASTER LAYER icon 

DZB1216-500363L004001_b image covers extent of Rome.

For locating the city, I located the airport and after that it is quite easy to identify the Colosseum and the Vatican city.

Note: The data takes time to download so make sure that you have good internet and PC is charged.

How to download CORONA data from USGS

Downloading and Opening CORONA data in QGIS 

Please read the above link. 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and the vision of the Indian Space Program

 

Dr Vikram Sarabhai and the vision of the Indian Space Program

ISRO is set to launch its latest earth observation satellite EOS-01 and nine international customer spacecraft onboard its PSLV-C49 rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on November 7. With the growing popularity of ISRO’s work, Indian citizens are not only proud but have developed a keen interest in the Space Program. Ahead of the launch let's discuss the man behind this organisation. 

Vikram Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919, at Ahmedabad in an affluent family of progressive industrialists. He was one of the eight children of Ambalal and Sarla Devi. He had his early education in a private school, ‘Retreat’, run by his parents. Eminent personalities like Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, J Krishna Murthi, Motilal Nehru, VS Shrinivasa Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Azad, CF Andrews, C V Raman used to stay with the Sarabhai family when they visited Ahmedabad. Mahatma Gandhi also once stayed at their house while recovering from an illness. Visits by such great personalities greatly influenced Vikram Sarabhai. Interestingly it was Rabindranath Tagore who wrote his recommendation to Cambridge. Dr Sarabhai proceeded to Cambridge for his college education. 

 

At the beginning of World War II, he returned home and joined as a research scholar under Sir CV Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. His research  interest in solar physics and cosmic rays led him to set up many observation stations around the country. He built the necessary equipment and took measurements at Bengaluru, Pune and the Himalayas. He returned to Cambridge in 1945 and completed his PhD in 1947.

. 

Dr Sarabhai was the founder of many organizations, to name some:

• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad

• Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA)

• Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad

• Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad

• Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad (along with his wife Mrinalini Sarabhai)

• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuramm

• Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into existence after merging six institutions/centres established by Sarabhai)

• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam

• Varaiable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta

• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad

• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar

He passed away on 30th December 1971. Years after his death, in 1975 the first Indian satellite Aryabhatt was launched by Kosmos-3M from Astrakhan Oblast.

References

1. K. Kasturirangan, ‘Vikram Sarabhai as I knew’

2. Amrita Shah, Vikram Sarabhai- A life, Penguin Books Ltd, 2007

How to download Declassified CORONA data from USGS?

What is CORONA data?

The images from Corona are a useful tool to study landscape as it gives a representation of the study area from the 1960s and 1970s, that is, before the time mechanized means were used for changing land cover. Thus tracing out archaeological features in Corona data is easier when compared to recent satellite data due to the subsequent land cover change. The Corona program was conceptualized by the United States of America in 1958. After World War II, both USA and USSR entered a stage which is commonly known as the Space race. The Corona program was thus conceived by the USA for military surveillance. These images from Corona are high-resolution images (up to 3m) covering large areas and captured by panchromatic cameras (Dashora 2007). The images were captured

from 1960 to 1972 and can be used for any application including archaeological exploration. The

data from CORONA declassified and made public in three parts (Declass-1 in 1995, Declass-2 in 2002 and Declass-3 in 2013), which can now be accessed from Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) website. 

Register, login and download data.

1. link to USGS

https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

2. Make an account and sign in.

3. Click on search criteria tab.

• One can search for a place by typing the Name. For example.: New Delhi India.
• Now Click on Data Sets.
• Goto Declassified data.
• All the data pertaining to the study area will be displayed.
• You have to choose the best image which is free.
• and click download.

Next blog will be about georeferencing CORONA data

How to use google doc

Login to your Gmail id.
then just Google, Google docs, now you can create docs, excel, slide
Click on go to google docs
now start writing. Enjoy!!!

The benefit of using google doc is that you can share it with other people and the edits they make you can instantaneously see, as it is online. It makes proofreading and correcting when many people are working on the same doc. 

Unlike MS word where we write and mail to the concerned person and then wait for edits which are usually done in track change mode. And you end up having revised version1, revised version 2 and long file names. :(

I use it to write journal papers and any other work that I need to get comments from my Supervisor.

Also, you have the option to insert a footnote. After completing the doc "download as word doc".
Later in word you can change from footnote to endnote.
Yes it is this easy :)