Introduction to Space Archaeology

This book presents the basic principles and the latest advances in space archaeology. Following general reviews of the state of the art of Earth observation technologies and archaeology, the book introduces the principles and methods of space archaeology, remote sensing methods for archaeological survey, and integrated archaeological survey methods including geophysics, virtual reality, web technologies, global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS), and big data. The book then presents two chapters on case studies of word heritage sites in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Americas, including three major world heritage sites in China: The Great Wall, Grand Canal, and Silk Road. The last chapter of the book discusses the future of space archaeology. This book has an interdisciplinary appeal and scholars with an interest in cultural heritage and remote sensing technologies for Earth value its contribution.

Huadong Guo is Director General of International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Director of the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage under the Auspices of UNESCO,  Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Academician of CAS, Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, Fellow of TWAS and Fellow of International Science Council. He presently serves as Honorary President of the International Society for Digital Earth(ISDE),Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Digital Earth and the Big Earth Data Journal. He served as President of ICSU Committee on Data for Science and Technology and President of ISDE. He has over 40 years of experience in Earth observation, specializing in radar remote sensing and Digital Earth science.

Wang Xinyuan is Professor at International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He is also serving as Deputy Director of International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the Auspices of UNESCO, Chair of Digital Heritage Specialized Committee of China National Committee, International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), Co-Chair of the Heritage Working Group of the Digital Belt and Road Programme (DBAR), Member of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Executive Member of ICOMOS-China, and Member of the World Heritage Expert Committee of the State Forestry and Grass Administration of China. He is engaged in the research of remote sensing archaeology and digital heritage conservation. His current research interest focuses on adapting Big Earth Data technologies to the needs of space archaeology and the SDG11.4 assessment.

Fulong Chen is Professor at International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He serves as Deputy Director of International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage under the Auspices of UNESCO, Editorial Board Member of Remote Sensing, Heritage and International Journal of Digital Earth, and Deputy Director of cultural heritage conservation Specialized Committee, Chinese Society of Surveying and Mapping. He was selected as the 100-Talents Program of CAS. His current research interests include remote sensing for achieving SDGs, interferometric SAR for geohazards and cultural applications, and intelligent remote sensing data processing and modelling, which are the areas where he has more than 100 academic papers and been PI for more than 20 national and provincial sponsored projects. 

Cheng Wang is Professor at International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage under the Auspices of UNESCO. He received his Ph.D. degree in remote sensing from the University of Strasbourg, France, in 2005. He has over 20 years of experience in LiDAR remote sensing mechanism, LiDAR data processing, and LiDAR industry applications. He has been Principal Investigator for over 15 national projects related to LiDAR in China. He has been teaching a course called LiDAR Remote Sensing in the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences for about 10 years. Prof. Wang has published more than 200 papers and four books and is the principal awardee of 10 domestic science and technology prizes.