Large-scale, collaborative imagery survey in archaeology: the Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology (GeoPACHA)
Steven A. Wernke, Parker Van Valkenburgh, James Zimmer‐Dauphinee, Bethany Whitlock, Giles Spence Morrow, Ryan D. Smith, Douglas K. Smit, Grecia Roque Ortega, Kevin Ricci Jara, Daniel Plekhov, Gabriela Oré Menéndez, Scotti Norman, Giancarlo Marcone, Manuel Mamani Calloapaza, Lauren Kohut, Carla Hernández Garavito, Sofía Chacaltana Cortez, Elizabeth Arkush
Abstract
Imagery-based survey is capable of producing archaeological datasets that complement those collected through field-based survey methods, widening the scope of analysis beyond regions. The Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology (GeoPACHA) enables systematic registry of imagery survey data through a ‘federated’ approach. Using GeoPACHA, teams pursue problem-specific research questions through a common data schema and interface that allows for inter-project comparisons, analyses and syntheses. The authors present an overview of the platform's rationale and functionality, as well as a summary of results from the first survey campaign, which was carried out by six projects distributed across the central Andes, five of which are represented here.