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

尼罗河是世界上最长的河流，它分成两条支流，都流入地中海。 大约2500年前，在法老时代，尼罗河有第三条水道，称为Pelusiac河，从西向东流淌。随着时间的推移，这条河的通道关闭，由于淹没海滩加积。今天，古老的Pelusiac河地区被几米厚的沙子和淤泥层覆盖。该地区正在经历快速增长和随机城市化进程。人们担心，城市的迅速发展可能会破坏这一地区尚未发现的宝贵考古遗址。这项工作的主要目标是仔细绘制Pelusiac河及其天然和人工支流的地图，并在其河岸上找到以前未被发现的考古遗址的标志。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Mohamed A.埃及苏伊士运河大学地质系的Rashed博士分析了遥感和DEM数据，以确定Pelusiac河及其支流的确切轨迹。 然后，将选择进一步研究的目标领域。这些专业人员将利用地球物理勘测和进行探地雷达和甚低频勘测，对地下进行成像，以寻找埋藏的渠道、考古遗址和相关特征。如果没有原始模型，数据的处理和解释可能会非常困难，并且由于不良的处理参数或解释伪影，可能会丢失很大一部分信息。研究区的地质、水文地质和气候条件使其成为进行实验性探地雷达调查的良好候选地。结合地质雷达的结果与地质信息已知从以前的地质和地球物理研究，预计将产生一个可靠的解释，特别是当与遥感数据集成。美国和埃及科学家之间的对话。该项目将为进一步开展这一合作提供机会。早期职业埃及科学家和研究生和本科生将在埃及方面的支持下在休斯顿大学接受培训。对于美国的研究生和本科生，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加以传播。确定Pelusiac河的确切路线将有助于绘制地下水地图，这对该沙漠地区的发展非常重要。同样，在Pelusiac河岸上找到考古遗址的标志将有助于保护任何没有记录的考古遗址。了解地下地质将有助于决策者规划和实施该领域的未来扩张。该项目的资金由国际科学与工程办公室的非洲，近东和南亚计划提供。

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.