A multi-sensor polarimetric analysis over archaeological sites

Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) analysis reveals distinct configurations for optimal detection of archaeological structures. Comparing RADARSAT-2 and ALOS-PALSAR data at similar incidence angles (23.10°, 26.20°, and 27.07°), researchers identified that varying RADARSAT-2 incidence angles (27° vs. 45°) significantly enhances subsurface feature visibility in UNESCO-listed Samarra, Iraq, and Gebel Barkal, Sudan. This multi-sensor approach demonstrates that adjusting radar incidence angle can improve the identification of buried structures, offering a non-invasive method for archaeological mapping.

Patruno, J., Dore, N., Crespi, M., & Pottier, E. (2012). A multi-sensor polarimetric analysis over archaeological sites. 2012 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 6805–6808. https://doi.org/10.1109/igarss.2012.6352601