The Application of RGB, Multispectral, and Thermal Imagery to Document and Monitor Archaeological Sites in the Arctic: A Case Study from South Greenland

Over the past decades, climate change has accelerated deterioration of heritage sites and archaeological resources in Arctic subarctic landscapes. At same time, increased tourism growing numbers site visitors contribute to degradation manipulation sites. This situation created an urgent need for new, quick, non-invasive tools methodologies that can help cultural managers detect, monitor, mitigate vulnerable In this context, remote sensing applications UAVs could play important role. Here, we used a drone equipped with RGB camera single multispectral/thermal test different possible archeological at two well-known UNESCO World Heritage area Kujataa south Greenland. The data collected were potential using cameras mapping (1) ruins structures, (2) impact human activity, (3) soil moisture variability. Our results showed combination digital surface models offers very useful information identify map structures study Furthermore, NDVI maps seems be best method monitor wear tear on vegetation caused by visitors. Finally, tried estimate content based temperature rise Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI), but did not achieve any meaningful connection between TVDI on-site measurements. Ultimately, our pointed limited applicability contexts.