convergence: history meets rocket science

[15_the_circle]

[OT from cottage renovations]

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now and then it happens that interesting pieces of information come together from several directions into a single event. 

here's a good example:  a recently released study of satellite imagery reveals remarkably detailed traces of Altinum, a Roman city once located along the shore of the Lagoon of Venice. 

image: Andrea Ninfo et al., Science (31 July 2009)

for quick summaries of the study see "Ancient Roman City Rises Again" in the AAAS daily news, supplemented by further image analysis in "Altinum revealed... and in Google Earth" on Ogle Earth. 
 

the subject matter, the location (ah, Venice), the integration of remote sensing technology with geospatial data, even a .PDF with details on the methods used (false colour crop images reveal more data during drought conditions, and it helps to have access to archives with maps covering the last couple of centuries to filter out the more contemporary features). 

all of these are interesting in their own right, but it's when they all come together that it really works. 
if nothing else I hope it encourages a certain graduate student who is trying to reconcile his interests in history and in space technology.  they don't need to be separate, not at all. 

Comments

[mmatthews1950.livejournal.com]

George, this is absolutely fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing! -- Greta