US Egypt Cooperative Research: Integrated Remote Sensing and Shallow Geophysical Investigations on the Pelusiac River

美埃合作研究：佩卢西亚河综合遥感和浅层地球物理调查

• 批准号: 1004168
• 负责人: Shuhab Khan
• 金额: $ 5.73万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-10-01 至 2014-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1004168&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: US; Egypt; Cooperative; Research; Integrated

The Nile is the longest river in the world, and it splits into two tributaries, both of which drain to the Mediterranean. Around 2500 years ago during pharaonic times, there was a third channel of Nile called the Pelusiac River, running west to east. Over time, this channel of the river closed due to prograding beach accretion. Today, the ancient Pelusiac River area is covered by sand and silt layers that are several meters thick. This area is undergoing rapid growth and a random urbanization process. There is concern that rapid urban growth may destroy valuable undiscovered archaeological sites in this area. The main objective of this work is to carefully map the Pelusiac River and its natural and artificial branches and to locate signs of previously unidentified archaeological sites on its banks. It is also intended to understand the shallow subsurface geology and groundwater conditions. To achieve these goals, the PI will collaborate with Dr. Mohamed A. Rashed, of the Geology Department at Suez Canal University in Egypt to analyze remote sensing and DEM data in order to locate the exact track of the Pelusiac River and its branches. Then, target areas for further studies will be selected. The PIs will image the subsurface to search for buried channels, archeological sites and related features using geophysical surveys and conducting Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Very-Low Frequency (VLF) surveys.INTELLECTUAL MERITThis work can help in processing and interpretation of the radar data collected on other parts of the Earth and potentially on planetary surfaces such as Mars. Without a raw model, processing and interpretation of data can be extremely difficult, and a good portion of information can be lost due to bad processing parameters or interpretation artifacts. The geological, hydrogeological and climatic conditions of the study area make it a good candidate for an experimental GPR survey. Combining GPR results with the geologic information known from previous geological and geophysical studies is expected to yield a reliable interpretation, especially when integrated with the remote sensing data.BROADER IMPACTSThe proposed work builds on several years? of discussions between US and Egyptian scientists. This project will provide the opportunity to further this collaboration. Early career Egyptian scientists and graduate and undergraduate students will be trained at the University of Houston with support from the Egyptian side. For US graduate and undergraduate students, this project will provide opportunities for scientific and cultural exchange. Project results will be disseminated by publications and presentations at national and international meetings. Identifying the exact track of the Pelusiac River will help in mapping groundwater, which is very important for development in this desert area. Similarly, locating the signs of archaeological sites on the banks of the Pelusiac River will help in protection of any undocumented archaeological sites. Understanding the subsurface geology will help decision makers as future expansion in this area is planned and undertaken.Funding for this project is provided by the Office of International Science and Engineering's Africa, Near East, and South Asia program.

尼罗河是世界上最长的河流，它分为两条支流，这两条支流都流入地中海。大约2500年前，在法老时代，尼罗河有第三条河道，从西向东流经，被称为鹈鹕河。随着时间的推移，这条河的航道由于海滩的淤积而关闭。今天，古老的鹈鹕河地区被几米厚的沙层和粉砂层覆盖。这一地区正在经历快速增长和随机的城市化进程。人们担心，城市的快速发展可能会摧毁这一地区宝贵的未被发现的考古遗址。这项工作的主要目标是仔细绘制Pelusiac河及其自然和人工分支的地图，并在其河岸上找到以前未确定的考古遗址的迹象。它还旨在了解浅层地下地质和地下水条件。为了实现这些目标，PI将与埃及苏伊士运河大学地质系的Mohamed A.Rashed博士合作，分析遥感和DEM数据，以定位Pelusiac河及其分支的准确轨迹。然后，将选择进一步研究的目标区域。PIS将使用地球物理测量和进行探地雷达(GPR)和甚低频(VLF)测量来为地下成像，以搜索埋藏的渠道、考古遗址和相关特征。这项工作可以帮助处理和解释在地球其他部分以及可能在火星等行星表面收集的雷达数据。如果没有原始模型，数据的处理和解释可能会非常困难，而且由于处理参数或解释伪像不佳，很大一部分信息可能会丢失。研究区的地质、水文地质和气候条件使其成为探地雷达试验性调查的良好候选者。将探地雷达结果与以前地质和地球物理研究中已知的地质信息相结合，有望产生可靠的解释，特别是与遥感数据相结合时。美国和埃及科学家之间的讨论。该项目将为进一步开展这一合作提供机会。在埃及方面的支持下，埃及早期职业科学家以及研究生和本科生将在休斯顿大学接受培训。对于美国研究生和本科生来说，这个项目将提供科学和文化交流的机会。项目成果将通过出版物和在国家和国际会议上的介绍来传播。确定鹈鹕河的准确轨迹将有助于绘制地下水地图，这对这一沙漠地区的开发非常重要。同样，在Pelusiac河岸定位考古遗址的标志将有助于保护任何未记录在案的考古遗址。了解地下地质将有助于决策者，因为该地区未来的扩张正在计划和进行中。该项目的资金由国际科学和工程办公室的非洲、近东和南亚项目提供。