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Ultradense Topographic Correction by 3D‐Laser Scanning in Pseudo‐3D Ground‐penetrating Radar Data: Application to the Constructive Pattern of the Monumental Platform at the Segeda I Site (Spain)
Author(s) -
Teixidó Teresa,
Peña José Antonio,
Fernández Gloria,
Burillo Francisco,
Mostaza Teresa,
Zancajo Julio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
archaeological prospection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.785
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1099-0763
pISSN - 1075-2196
DOI - 10.1002/arp.1464
Subject(s) - ground penetrating radar , geology , laser scanning , terrain , remote sensing , digital elevation model , lidar , radar , differential gps , global positioning system , laser , computer science , optics , geography , cartography , telecommunications , physics
ABSTRACT Three‐dimensional ground‐penetrating radar (3D‐GPR) is one of the highest resolution geophysical methods for exploring the shallow subsurface and it is widely utilized in the diverse fields requiring this kind of information: for example archaeology, civil engineering and environmental studies. Currently, there are several ways to present 3D‐GPR results: 2D vertical pictures (radargrams), time‐ and depth‐slices, a mixture of radargram‐slice images, GPR reflectivity maps and GPR isosurface images. All of these techniques, however, require the maximum number of details possible. When the recognition surface is not horizontal, the GPR image is distorted due the topographic irregularities. To eliminate these distortions, a classic topographic correction is applied to the GPR data set, particularly in 2D GPR profiles. Generally, this topographic information is obtained by laser levelling, total station, differential Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar equipment. This study uses a new method of topographic correction based on three‐dimensional laser scanner (3D‐laser scanner) technology that provides ultradense coordinates of the terrain. A strategy for applying this topographic correction to 3D‐GPR vertical traces is discussed and evaluated by comparing corrected images with other uncorrected images obtained using the same standard processing flow. The GPR dataset used to test this method is from a monumental structure located in the Celtiberian site of Segeda I (Mara, Spain). The data were acquired using a 400 MHz antenna on 0.25 m spaced profiles. Although the relief of this structure is not overly complex, we demonstrate how the results obtained by applying this topographic correction technique allow a better archaeological interpretation of the internal architecture. The technique is therefore presented as a new archaeological tool to obtain clearer images of buried structures and/or their internal elements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.