Digital Analysis of Rock Art in Santa Olaya Canyon: Integrating Cultural Landscape and UAV Technologies for Conservation

A high-precision digital documentation of open-air rock art in Santa Olaya Canyon, Tamaulipas, Mexico, reveals the cultural and symbolic significance of these sites within their natural landscape. Using UAV (drone) technology and 3D photoreconstruction techniques, researchers captured detailed orthomosaics and point clouds of a vertical rock face, providing a non-invasive method for conservation and analysis. This approach addresses gaps in institutional protection and highlights the vulnerability of rock art collections in the Sierra de San Carlos region, where theft and vandalism pose risks. The study underscores the potential of digital tools to preserve archaeological heritage in remote, inaccessible areas, creating a lasting digital legacy for future research.

Yépez-Rincón, F. D., Requena Lara, G. N., Aguilar Treviño, C. C., Treviño-Carreón, J., Calvillo-Villacaña, Ma. E., Cerda-Luque, P. A., & Morales-Pacheco, J. F. (2026). Digital Analysis of Rock Art in Santa Olaya Canyon: Integrating Cultural Landscape and UAV Technologies for Conservation. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLIX-B2-2026, 917–922. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlix-b2-2026-917-2026