This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Remote Sensing and Geosciences for Archaeology" that was published in Geosciences

This book collects 15 papers written by renowned scholars from across the globe that showcase the forefront research in Earth observation (EO), remote sensing (RS), and geoscientific ground investigations to study archaeological records and cultural heritage. Archaeologists, anthropologists, geographers, remote sensing, and archaeometry experts share their methodologies relying on a wealth of techniques and data including, but not limited to: very high resolution satellite images from optical and radar space-borne sensors, air-borne surveys, geographic information systems (GIS), archaeological fieldwork, and historical maps. A couple of the contributions highlight the value of noninvasive and nondestructive laboratory analyses (e.g., neutron diffraction) to reconstruct ancient manufacturing technologies, and of geological ground investigations to corroborate hypotheses of historical events that shaped cultural landscapes. Case studies encompass famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites (e.g., the Nasca Lines in Peru), remote and yet-to-discover archaeological areas in tropical forests in central America, European countries, south Asian changing landscapes, and environments which are arid nowadays but were probably full of woody vegetation in the past. Finally, the reader can learn about the state-of-the-art of education initiatives to train site managers in the use of space technologies in support of their activities, and can understand the legal aspects involved in the application of EO and RS to address current challenges of African heritage preservation.

This book focuses on the application of geospatial technologies for resource planning and management for the key natural resources, e.g. water, agriculture and forest as well as the decision support system (DSS) for infrastructure development. We have seen in the past four decades that the growing complexities of sustainable management of natural resources management have been very challenging. The book has been written to leverage the current geospatial technologies that integrate the remotely sensed data available from various platforms, the precise locational data providing geospatial intelligence, and the advanced integration tools of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Geospatial technologies have been used for water resources management employing geomorphological characteristics, analysis of river migration pattern, understanding the large-scale hydrological process, wet land classification and monitoring, analysis of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), assessment of environmental flow and soil erosion studies, water quality modelling and assessment and rejuvenation of paleochannels through groundwater recharge. Geospatial technologies have been applied for crop classification and mapping, soil moisture determination using RISAT-1 C-band and PALSAR-2 L-band sensors, inventory of horticulture plantations, management of citrus orchards, crop yield forecasting, rice yield estimation, estimation of evapotranspiration and its evaluation against lysimeter and satellite-based evapotranspiration product for India to address the various issues of the agricultural system management. Geospatial technologies have been used for generation of digital elevation model, urban dynamics assessment, mobile GIS application at grass root level planning, cadastral level developmental planning and e-governance applications, system dynamics for sustainable development, micro-level water resources planning, site suitability for sewage treatment plant, traffic density assessment, geographical indications of India, archaeological applications and disasters interventions to elaborate various issues of DSS for infrastructure development and management. Geospatial technologies have been employed for the generation and reconciliation of the notified forest land boundaries, and also the land cover changes analysis within notified forest areas, forest resource assessment, management and monitoring and wildlife conservation and management. This book aims to present high-quality technical case studies representing the recent developments in the “application of geospatial technologies for resource planning and management”. The editors hope that this book will serve as a valuable resource for scientists and researchers to plan and manage land and water resources sustainably.

This book brings together a total of six papers in an interdisciplinary way at the border of natural disasters and cultural heritage. There is a need for studying and documenting cultural heritage in Arctic landscapes, as these are the most affected by climate change. Remote sensing represents a powerful tool in the monitoring, management and safeguarding of cultural heritage. Sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List should receive more attention from both geoscientists and social scientists. Urbanization has a short- and long-lasting effect on the conservation of cultural heritage.

This book presents the results of the survey conducted by the University of Florence, in the years 2008-2012, at the site and in the surrounding territory of Uşaklı Höyük on the central Anatolian plateau in Turkey. Geological, geomorphological, topographic and geophysical research have provided new information and data relating to the environment and the settlement landscape, as well as producing new maps of the area and indicating the presence of large buried buildings on the site. Analysis of the rich corpus of pottery collected from the surface indicates that the site and its territory were continuously settled from the late Early Bronze Age through the Iron Age and down to the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. A few fragments of cuneiform tablets with Hittite texts, a sealing with two impressions of a stamp seal, and pottery stamps illustrate the importance of Uşaklı Höyük and support the hypothesis of its identification with the town of Zippalanda, known from the Hittite sources as a seat of the cult of the Storm God.

Geology and archaeology have a long history of fruitful collaborations stretching back to the early 19th century. Geoarchaeology - the application of the geosciences to solve research problems in archaeology - has now emerged as a recognised sub-discipline of archaeology, especially in the United States. traditionally, the methods used include geomorphology, sedimentology, pedology, and stratigraphy, reflecting the fact that most archaeological evidence is recovered from the sedimentary environment. as reflected in the sub-title, this volume embraces a broader definition, including geophysics and geochemistry.

The Handbook of Archaeological Methods comprises 37 articles by leading archaeologists on the key methods used by archaeologists in the field, in analysis, in theory building, and in managing cultural resources. The book is destined to become the key reference work for archaeologists and their advanced students on contemporary archaeological methods.

Advanced Tools for Studying Soil Erosion Processes: Erosion Modelling, Soil Redistribution Rates, Advanced Analysis, and Artificial Intelligence presents the most recent technologies and methods in quantifying soil erosion, focusing on quantitative geomorphological assessment, soil erosion interaction with natural and man-made hazards using new methods, and technologies that employ GIS, remote sensing (RS), spatial modeling, and machine learning tools as an effective plan for decision-makers and land users.Organized into three parts: 1) Erosion processes and impacts, 2) Advanced computing techniques to quantify soil erosion, and 3) Methods of Soil Erosion, this book will be an invaluable source material for researchers, academicians, graduate and undergraduate students, and professionals in the field of geology, specifically focused on geographic information systems and remote sensing. - Provides an overview of soil erosion and its interaction with natural hazards (i.e., geological, hydrological, meteorological, and biological) - Introduces advanced tools and technologies in soil erosion management - Presents future soil erosion opportunities and challenges

This book presents the forensic geoscience in general and, in particular, in Italy and their application to peculiar crimes. Italy is internationally relevant due to the presence of different kinds of “geo-crimes” (in the first place, environmental mafia), and is emblematic to understanding the best way to fight these crimes. This book will not only offer a new view point to comprehending these “geo-crimes”, but also fresh and updated results of the different methods applied to fight against these crimes. This book is unique in that it is not a collection of articles but an individual work with the same theme beginning with a state-of-the-art of these disciplines to their international value passing through several case studies.