Human and Nature Effects Detection on the Environmental Properties of Archaeological Historic Cairo City in Egypt Based on Space and Ground Remote Sensing Data

A significant increase in groundwater levels beneath archaeological sites in Historic Cairo, driven by land subsidence and flash floods, threatens the structural integrity of these heritage sites. The study found that urban expansion from 1965 to 2015 led to substantial land subsidence (16.84 km²) and a flood event in October 2019 further exacerbated groundwater risks. Additionally, rapid urbanization raised surface temperatures, increasing evaporation rates and inducing salinity on damp archaeological walls. The research integrated space-based remote sensing data (optical satellite images, radar SRTM, and Sentinel-1 GRD/SLC) with ground measurements using Syscal PRO geophysical equipment to monitor land use changes, flooding impacts, and groundwater elevation. This approach demonstrated the potential of advanced remote sensing tools in detecting and mitigating environmental risks to irreplaceable heritage sites.

Elfadaly, A., Wafa, O., Gad, A., Khedr, H., & Atta, G. (2025). Human and Nature Effects Detection on the Environmental Properties of Archaeological Historic Cairo City in Egypt Based on Space and Ground Remote Sensing Data. Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology, 8(1), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.177