Description
Geoglyphs are anthropogenic features built onto the landscape by either removing a layer from the ground to expose the soil underneath or adding layers on top to create a relief. The most well-known examples of this are in the Nazca Valley, Peru where features can measure up to 400m long and have a variety of shapes. However not all geoglyphs are as big and complex as these, as is the case of the Sihuas Valley, Peru where geoglyphs are smaller and less elaborate in comparison. To identify and map these geoglyphs and other features, we used a combination of satellite and drone imagery integrated onto a GIS setting for visual recognition. Initial satellite image reconnaissance allowed us to locate some of the most visible geoglyphs, providing target areas for subsequent field study using drone photography and pedestrian survey. The results of this survey showed that each drone pass revealed a significant amount of information neither visible solely by satellite imagery nor easily comprehensible by observers on the ground. The use of GIS becomes an essential tool to integrate different sets of imagery in an attempt to map and understand these features within their landscape.
Use of Drones and GIS to Identify Geoglyphs in the Sihuas Valley, Peru
Geoglyphs are anthropogenic features built onto the landscape by either removing a layer from the ground to expose the soil underneath or adding layers on top to create a relief. The most well-known examples of this are in the Nazca Valley, Peru where features can measure up to 400m long and have a variety of shapes. However not all geoglyphs are as big and complex as these, as is the case of the Sihuas Valley, Peru where geoglyphs are smaller and less elaborate in comparison. To identify and map these geoglyphs and other features, we used a combination of satellite and drone imagery integrated onto a GIS setting for visual recognition. Initial satellite image reconnaissance allowed us to locate some of the most visible geoglyphs, providing target areas for subsequent field study using drone photography and pedestrian survey. The results of this survey showed that each drone pass revealed a significant amount of information neither visible solely by satellite imagery nor easily comprehensible by observers on the ground. The use of GIS becomes an essential tool to integrate different sets of imagery in an attempt to map and understand these features within their landscape.
Comments
Acknowledgements to: Justin Jennings, Peter Bikoulis, Giles Spence-Morrow, Willy Yepez-Alvarez, Stephanie Bautista, Royal Ontario Museum, Stanford University, National Geographic, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.