One of the advantages of LIDAR topography data is the ability to “see through” vegetation so to speak. The light beams aren’t actually seeing through physical objects, but because of the high density of LIDAR pixels, some of the beams in a vegetated area see through the canopy to the ground surface. The vegetation can then be screened out of the data using post-processing. This kind of “bare earth” imagery was recently used by archaeologists in New England to locate “lost” settlements that dated back to the 18th century. [Source: Read more about this discovery and application of LIDAR imagery at National Geographic via ASCE SmartBrief. Image: National Geographic]
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Nicholson Acquires Terra Drilling
Pittsburgh, PA: Nicholson Construction Company has acquired the capital stock of Terra Drilling Company Inc., a geotechnical contractor headquartered in Hudson, MA.
The acquisition strengthens Nicholson’s position in the New England market, where Terra Drilling has completed hundreds of piling, earth retention, and grouting projects since it was founded in 1984. [Editor] Click through for the rest of the press release. [/Editor]
Drilling to Save Aswan Obelisk Quarry
The Ancient Egyptians are still marveled at today for some of their enduring hard-rock creations. Of course everyone thinks of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids, but perhaps just as impressive if not more impressive were the gigantic obelisks that were quarried and somehow transported into place. There is work underway to preserve a rare archaeological site, a granite quarry with a large unfinished obelisk near Aswan.
Archaeological evidence combined with some shallow seismic refraction surveys and bore holes confirm the finding of a canal believed to have been used to transport these obelisks to the Nile River during flooding. However, dewatering will be needed to excavate these canals to verify these claims. Another problem is the salt deposits that are slowly destroying the quarry. National Driller Magazine is the location of this interesting article. Link after the break. (Photo by Son of Groucho)