21–30 of 52 posts
It's fascinating how many relics of ancient civilisation are concentrated in that part of the world. Many presenting puzzles yet to be solved.
Not really. It'd be much more fascinating if you found relics of ancient civilisation which weren't concentrated in that part of the world.
I wonder how they get permission to scour Egypt with a satellite camera. And even if permission was given, will Egyptian authorities allow control of the satellite and the images captured to remain with a university outside the country? Anyone have a better idea how this process works?
I don't think you need permission to take pictures of a country from space.
I don't know whether you've gotten a lot of votes or not so I don't know if your answer makes sense to other people as well.
Why do you think you don't need permission to take pictures of a country from space? I think there are certain areas in all countries that they would want to keep secret, and if you allow people to photograph in certain areas and not in others, that's exposing where these areas are (which is an invitation for governments to spy on those areas).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think you need permission to take pictures of a country from space.
This is one of those times where I wish I could see how many points your comment got. I don't know whether you've gotten a lot of votes or not so I don't know if your answer makes sense to other people as well. Why do you think you don't need permission to take pictures of a country from space? I think there are certain areas in all countries that they would want to keep secret, and if you allow people to photograph…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Denser == absorbs more of the light/different regions of the spectrum. This is detectable in the light that is reflected back. It's not dissimilar to how an ultrasound scanner is used to look at a baby in the womb. In fact, ultrasound is used in archaeology as well to do this sort of stuff, obviously on a smaller scale. This is the wikipedia page you want: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_spectroscopy Although t…
I am a physicist, and I'm afraid that the page on infra-red spectroscopy isn't really relevant due to (as you say) the very different length scales. What I think is really going on is thermodynamics. Suppose I bury a big stone pyramid under the sand. Stone is (I assume) a much better conductor of heat than sand. When the sun comes up after a cold night, it heats the sand, but the sand on top of the pyramid has its he…
Is it me or does news like this throw anyone else into a frenzy of daydreaming for a short while: using my computer expertise to enhance infrared images to reveal hitherto unknown pyramids (combining images from multiple spectral bands, SIFT object detection), battling with corrupt local authorities and looters, digging for the pyramid (and unfortunately losing a few of the team when the tunnel gives in), deciphering…
My searching on this topic turned up this interesting book - http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Sensing-Archaeology-Interdiscip... Seems like these techniques are going to radically change how we find new archaeological sites. Tech. project idea: Build some tools to help archaeologists learn and share from each other with this data. Build a world wide database of IR imagery just a few meters below the surface?
And mount to DIYDrones for added awesome.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think you need permission to take pictures of a country from space.
This is one of those times where I wish I could see how many points your comment got. I don't know whether you've gotten a lot of votes or not so I don't know if your answer makes sense to other people as well. Why do you think you don't need permission to take pictures of a country from space? I think there are certain areas in all countries that they would want to keep secret, and if you allow people to photograph…
But, the closest I could get: UN General Assembly, resolution 41/65, of 3 December 1986: Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space.
Principle IV: These activities shall be conducted on the basis of respect for the principle of full and permanent sovereignty of all States and peoples over their own wealth and natural resources, with due regard to the rights and interests, in accordance with international law, of other States and entities under their jurisdiction. Such activities shall not be conducted in a manner detrimental to the legitimate rights and interests of the sensed State.
I'm not sure how remote sensing could violate jurisdiction over wealth and resources, but it does not mention territory.
And then there's principle XII: As soon as the primary data and the processed data concerning the territory under its jurisdiction are produced, the sensed State shall have access to them on a non-discriminatory basis and on reasonable cost terms. The sensed State shall also have access to the available analysed information concerning the territory under its jurisdiction in the possession of any State participating in remote sensing activities on the same basis and terms, taking particularly into account the needs and interests of the developing countries.
If prior permission to perform the sensing was required, provisions stipulating that the data should be shared would be redundant, I think?
Source: http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gar...
Is it me or does news like this throw anyone else into a frenzy of daydreaming for a short while: using my computer expertise to enhance infrared images to reveal hitherto unknown pyramids (combining images from multiple spectral bands, SIFT object detection), battling with corrupt local authorities and looters, digging for the pyramid (and unfortunately losing a few of the team when the tunnel gives in), deciphering…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do they look at day-night differential images? That would a priori seem to confirm your hypothesis and also provide a better imaging result. No I didn't read the article.
That would a priori seem to confirm your hypothesis I'm not sure that a priori means what you think it means.
I use it here in the same sense as "an a priori estimate" as opposed to the more common logical use of something being apparent without requiring study but only the application of reason.
I take it you're more a logician than a Latin student. If the later then I guess you'll probably correct me?
Are you sure now, let me know.
--
Aside I've had chance to read teh article and there was no mention of taking near-IR images at day and night. So presumably it's my language use that's getting me heavily downmodded?