Integration of Satellite Data Analysis with Ground Penetrating Radar to Map Archaeological Features in Al Aamerah, United Arab Emirates

Traditional techniques of locating past settlements through visual inspection and excavation can be time-consuming and insufficient. This article presents the combination of advanced satellite data analysis with nondestructive ground penetrating radar (GPR) to identify and model buried archaeological features in Al Aamerah, United Arab Emirates. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is integrated in this investigation, capturing information in the L-Band to regionally point to potential archaeological sites. The methodology is based on the integration of machine learning and advanced image processing to automate feature detection and geospatial analysis. A high-resolution geophysical survey using GPR proved the existence of a house-shaped anomaly, probably of archaeological nature. A commercial AI algorithm could provide a realistic representation model from the 3D GPR model. This integrated investigation using SAR and geophysics accelerates the identification of archaeological sites in the vast sand desert and improves the efficiency of archaeological excavation. Geophysical investigation provides information about the geometry and depth of each feature, allowing for the selection of the most adequate digging techniques and tools.