El empleo de fotogrametría mediante vehículos aéreos no tripulados (VANT/dron) como herramienta de evaluación del patrimonio en riesgo: chinampas arqueológicas de Xochimilco

A study demonstrates that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) equipped with specialized cameras can effectively evaluate archaeological features at shallow depths, offering a high-resolution alternative to traditional methods like LIDAR. Researchers used photogrammetry—processing stereopairs of visible light and near-infrared images—to generate digital elevation models and normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) maps. These tools revealed buried traits in the chinampas (floating gardens) of Xochimilco, Mexico, by enhancing differences in vegetation growth and health. The approach provides a cost-effective, scalable solution for assessing at-risk cultural heritage sites.

Acosta, G., McClung, E., Jiménez, G., & Hugo García, V. (2018). Using Photogrammetry through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as a Risk Assessment Tool: The Archaeological Chinampas of Xochimilco. Revista Española de Antropología Americana, 47, 185–197. https://doi.org/10.5209/reaa.61978