Remote sensing detection and verification of disappeared reservoirs along the Grand Canal of China

• Published in: International journal of digital earth Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 219 - 232
• Main Authors: Deng, Biao, Nie, Yueping, Guo, Huadong, Wang, Changlin, Lei, Shenglin, Li, Rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: aerial photography; Aerials; anomaly; biomass; Canals; China; detection; Digital; digital archeology; Earth; Grand Canal; image analysis; Imagery; Landsat; Remote sensing; Reservoirs; soil water; Studies; vegetation; vigor
• ISSN: 1753-8955; 1753-8947; 1753-8955
• DOI: 10.1080/17538947.2011.625048

Digital Earth is an information-rich expression of the real Earth and is a new way of understanding the Earth in the twenty-first century. Archeology has found great potentialities in Digital Earth, strongly increasing its development and its interdisciplinary experimentations. With the rapid development of remote sensing, the importance of applying Earth observation technology to archeological research has caught a great amount of attention worldwide. The objective of this study is to apply Radarsat-1 and Landsat imagery, historical maps, and aerial photographs in the detection and verification of disappeared reservoirs built 500 years ago as part of the Grand Canal of China. The results of the study show that the potential sites present distinct variations in soil moisture, biomass, and biological vigor, characterized by weak backscattering in Radarsat imagery; high vegetation indices in Landsat imagery; and distinct anomalies in a Landsat principle components image. Historical maps and aerial photographs also verified the existence of the sites of disappeared reservoirs. Since the sites have so far not been extensively explored, the results should represent a significant contribution to the understanding of the Grand Canal of China and its auxiliary facilities.