Dr. Lev Appelbaum from the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences in the Faculty of Exact Sciences at Tel Aviv University combined seven different geophysical methods and developed an algorithm that allows the data of all methods to be combined and noise removed
Researchers at Tel Aviv University, led by Dr. Lev Appelbaum from the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences in the Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, at Tel Aviv University have developed a new method for locating archaeological sites buried underground. The new method was recently published in the Journal Advances of Geosciences.
It is a combination of different sensing methods, some of which are based on different radio frequencies - including those used to communicate with submarines, others based on magnetic resonance, temperature and other features used to locate objects below the surface of the ground and separate them from their environment, and a mathematical algorithm that unifies them, tries to clean up noises and enables decision-making based on Some of the methods.
According to Dr. Appelbaum, there are seven different and independent methods, so that if the conditions on the ground neutralize one method for example, the archaeological findings can still be located considering the other six methods. The method is good for depths of up to tens of meters, and it relies on the differences in density between the ancient bone and its environment - whether it is sand, basalt, etc.
The main challenges in the development were dealing with different types of "noise" and disturbances that prevent it from correctly analyzing the findings of the various sensors that feed it. The noises can be of several types - when, for example, many bodies are under the surface of the ground and disrupt the signals from the relevant site. Another challenge that the researchers were able to meet is the possibility of locating the findings even when the ground is not smooth and straight, as standard instruments used by archaeologists do. Another challenge was the polarization of the magnetic field which changes over time and the reason why the inclination of the magnetic field in the Middle East region is currently 45 degrees and it is very difficult to detect deviations from it. To illustrate, in Canada, where the north magnetic pole is currently located, the polarization is vertical and therefore it is very easy to detect anomalies. Also, the development of the mathematical method developed by Applebaum and two other researchers - Dr. Leonid Alperovitz from the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University and Dr. Valeri Zhaldev from the School of Computer Sciences at Tel Aviv University, makes it possible to combine analyzes from the various geophysical data and to download the the noise, and get results even if noises are received by two or three methods.
"In Israel we have so many archaeological finds that have not yet been discovered, so the method will be useful. The method I developed can also help locate remains of indigenous cultures in America as well as locate minerals and other elements below the surface of the ground." Dr. Appelbaum clarifies.
Dr. Appelbaum's solution is called multi-PAM - where PAM is the acronym for the term physical and archaeological models
Dr. Appelbaum estimates that if they place the facility in a drone hovering several meters above the ground and scan wide strips of land, the method will be able to uncover sites of historical and archaeological importance. It is estimated that today there are about 20 undiscovered archaeological sites in Israel.
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I went to read (briefly!) the source and discovered that there is also another reasonable possibility - that I did not understand what was written in the article... 🙂
The researcher shows an ability to locate large underground spaces, and not items such as pottery or coins, and that too only under certain conditions.
Such announcements often turn out to be depressing.
What are the chances of detection? How many false alarms will there be?
To this day, TK Persa have not even been able to come close to such an achievement from the ground, and even more so from the air!
The ground is dense with uneven things - stones, roots, waste, water, etc.
The chances are that he distorted the researcher's conclusions, and the additional possibility is that he is wrong.
Now all that's left is to invent a method to save these sites...
Very nice
To the honorable respondents 4 and 5.
It's not that simple at all. I assume that it is even complicated and involves a lot of effort, knowledge and talent.
If it was "so simple" as you say - it wouldn't be amazing.
It's amazing, how right you are
By the way commenter 4, I'm not sure that the real problem is the discovery of the tunnels, it seems to me that the security forces know about most of the existing tunnels but avoid attacking them because of all kinds of stupid political considerations.
The proof - almost after every terrorist attack or shooting, the Palestinian perpetrators immediately hear on the news that the IDF has attacked and destroyed several more tunnels for smuggling weapons, meaning that the information is there but the decision makers are avoiding action. The same goes for ammunition warehouses and lathes for the production of mortars, which are also attacked only in response to...
this is simply amazing!! I so love reading about developments like this! Kudos to the developers.
By the way, why isn't there an illustrative picture? I imagine that the result of the operation of the algorithm is some kind of colored topographical map that shows where the various objects are in the scanned area, it is very interesting to see how clear the image will be to the common man.
By the way, is the algorithm based on neural networks?
Our brain is very good at filtering out noise and getting a clean image.
Responder 4 also scored in my opinion. The method should be coupled with rockets that will hover over the borders with Gaza-Rafih and the like and locate the tunnels there. On the other hand, it is known that there are tunnels - the simplest is to warn the infiltrators, pour some water there and they will collapse.
Congratulations on the new development. I really hope that the bureaucracy will not stick it on some shelf and that they will make good and wise use of it for the benefit of humanity.
Greetings friends,
Ami Bachar
And I wonder, if it's so simple, how is it that nowadays it's hard to even discover tunnels?
Get ready to turn over half the country 🙂
It is no longer necessary to wait for the construction of a road to belatedly discover archaeological remains...
Well done and honest!
Stunning
Almost came to say……………………………………….. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUTH
But probably it can still be said…….. ALTHOUGH IT IS GOOD – IT IS TRUTH
That we lived and existed and reached this time - Amen.
Reminds a bit of an ultrasound examination. No ?