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Lidar-derived Digital Elevation Models and Infrared high-definition imagery from satellites constitute the most efficient tools for identifying aguadas (ponds) in regions covered by dense forest. Three hundred fifty aguadas were identified in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
Lidar-derived Digital Elevation Model and Infrared high-definition satellite images and supplementary sources can be combined to enhance the identification of minor water bodies in densely wooded regions. Ponds in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve exceed the number that has previously documented, and their identification is highly relevant for conservation and archeological studies. This study explores the detection and classification of aguadas (ponds) in the Bajo El Laberinto region, in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Mexico, using remote sensing techniques. Lidar-derived digital elevation models (DEMs), orthophotos and satellite imagery from multiple sources were employed to identify and characterize these water reservoirs, which played a crucial role in ancient Maya water management and continued to be vital for contemporary wildlife. By comparing different visualization techniques and imagery sources, the study demonstrates that while lidar data provides superior topographic detail, satellite imagery—particularly with nominal 3 m, or finer, spatial resolution with a near-infrared band—offers valuable complementary data including present-day hydrological and vegetative characteristics. In this study, 350 aguadas were identified in the broader region. The shapes, canopy cover, and topographic positions of these aguadas were documented, and the anthropogenic origin of most features was emphasized. The paper’s conclusion states that combining various remote sensing datasets enhances the identification and understanding of aguadas, providing insights into ancient Mayan adaptive strategies and contributing to ongoing archaeological and ecological research.
Details
; Dunning, Nicholas P 2
; Anaya Hernández Armando 1 ; Carr, Christopher 2 ; Kupprat Felix 3 ; Reese-Taylor, Kathryn 4 ; Hinojosa-Garro Demián 5 1 Laboratorio de Geomática, Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre (CEDESU), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24079, Mexico; [email protected]
2 Department of Geography and GIS, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; [email protected] (N.P.D.); [email protected] (C.C.)
3 Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico; [email protected]
4 Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; [email protected]
5 Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática y Monitoreo Ambiental, Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre (CEDESU), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24079, Mexico; [email protected]