#LidarTechnology

[trendingjournals]

Accidental Discovery Reveals Lost Maya City in Mexican Jungle

A remarkable ancient Maya city, now named Valeriana, has been uncovered deep in the jungles of Campeche, Mexico, centuries after it vanished beneath the foliage.

Using Lidar technology, which employs laser mapping to reveal structures hidden under vegetation, archaeologists discovered pyramids, sports fields, causeways, and amphitheaters. Valeriana, believed to be one of the most densely populated Maya sites after Calakmul, showcases the advanced urban planning of the ancient civilization.

The discovery, which spans an area comparable to Edinburgh, was made almost by chance. Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student at Tulane University, stumbled upon a laser survey conducted by a Mexican environmental organization while browsing online. Intrigued, he analyzed the data and uncovered the remnants of a vast city that may have supported a population of 30,000 to 50,000 during its peak from 750 to 850 AD.

Named after a nearby lagoon, Valeriana challenges preconceived notions that the tropical regions of Latin America were devoid of thriving civilizations. Professor Marcello Canuto, a co-author of the research, emphasizes that this area was home to sophisticated cultures, contrary to the belief that it was where “civilizations went to die.”

While the exact reasons for Valeriana's decline remain unclear, climate change is suspected to have played a significant role. The city features distinct elements of a capital, with its buildings concentrated in two main centers about 2 km apart, linked by residential areas and causeways.

Despite its proximity to a major road near Xpujil, the site had never been documented before; locals may have suspected ruins existed beneath the earth mounds. Valeriana encompasses 16.6 square kilometers and includes plazas with temple pyramids, ancient ball courts, and evidence of reservoirs, indicating a well-supported population.

In total, the researchers identified 6,764 structures across three distinct sites, highlighting the densely settled landscape of the ancient Maya. This finding supports the idea that Maya societies were complex urban centers rather than isolated villages.

The study suggests that the Maya civilization's collapse from 800 AD onward may have been exacerbated by overpopulation and climate challenges. Auld-Thomas notes that this landscape was densely populated just as drought conditions began, leading to societal strain.

Furthermore, the region’s history of warfare and Spanish conquest in the 16th century contributed to the downfall of Maya city-states.

The advent of Lidar technology has transformed archaeological practices in densely forested areas, allowing for the discovery of lost civilizations. Prof. Canuto remarks that the use of Lidar has mapped significantly more area in recent years than traditional methods achieved in a century.

Auld-Thomas expresses excitement about the potential for more undiscovered sites, noting that the sheer number of newfound locations exceeds current archaeological resources. “I have to visit Valeriana; it’s so accessible, but whether we can conduct a project there remains uncertain,” he adds.

The findings from this groundbreaking research have been published in the academic journal Antiquity.

[marketinsightsbusiness]

The Future of Automotive LiDAR Technology

As autonomous vehicles become a reality, LiDAR technology is set to play a critical role in shaping the future of mobility. With its ability to provide real-time 3D mapping and enhance vehicle safety, LiDAR is at the forefront of automotive innovation. While challenges like high costs remain, ongoing technological advancements and partnerships are paving the way for widespread adoption. The global automotive LiDAR market is on a growth trajectory, and the road ahead looks promising.

For More Details Click Here

[ksmith2022]

Explore 20 Terms & Technologies Related to Scan to BIM

The Scan to BIM technology captures the spatial geometry of the built asset in order to create accurate as-builts through point cloud data. The LiDAR technology, in collaboration with several technologies, facilitates the construction project with scan to BIM benefits such as cost & time efficacy, enhanced collaboration, and accuracy.

[mirrorreview]

LiDAR is used in various sectors such as Evaluating the surrounding areas of Autonomous Vehicles, Transforming the Real world view with Augmented Reality (AR), Landscape Analysis, Biodiversity for species and Insects, Tsunami Hazard Model, and Aiding Forensic Researchers. LiDAR technology gives an opportunity to do impossible tasks out of human capabilities like surveying the remote landscape. The technology has a versatile nature for utilizing its sensors in various situations. LiDAR had the potential to transform human insights on various things and in future

[pennsylvaniaprelawland-blog]

When Tech Giants Butt Heads

By Tresa Zacharia, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2018

July 27, 2017

Incidents of one company suing another is a dime a dozen in the tech world. However, when two tech giants such as Google Alphabet’s Waymo and Uber go head to head, sparks are assured to fly. Google’s formerly self-driving car project is claiming that Uber knowingly stole – and used – some of Waymo’s coveted trade secrets. Though Waymo’s original allegations included 4 patent claims, the case will most likely go to trial in October of 2017 with Waymo dropping 3 of the 4 claims.  

But wait – how did this all begin? A former employee of Waymo’s, Anthony Levandowski started a self-driving truck company called Otto in January of 2016. By August 2016, Uber technologies had acquired Otto for about $680 million. Later in the fall, Waymo allegedly suspected foul play and when they looked back through their system, allegedly found 14,000 files had been downloaded by Levandowski prior to his departure from Waymo. Within these files were the details of Waymo’s Lidartechnology which they are claiming Uber has stolen and has now started to use.

While Waymo is going full steam ahead on gathering all the evidence they can against Uber, the accused is vehemently denying any knowledge or malintent. Uber claims that Levandowski downloaded the files of his own accord and “even if [he] did it, he was out for himself – not Uber” [1]. Speaking of Levandowski, the engineer asserted his right to the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, or pleaded the fifth, and effectively shielded many documents from Waymo’s team. However, after the court ordered Uber to compel Levandowski to return any documents taken from Waymo and Levandowskirefused, Uber threatened him with termination. When Levandowski still did not comply with the investigation, Uber followed through and he was terminated.

Following this, Levandowski’s counsel argued that their client was forced to choose between their right to refuse self-incrimination and continued employment, claiming it was coerced by a government agent. However the judge now overseeing the case, District Judge William Alsup, ruled that as a private employer, Uber had the right to conduct their own investigation and fire Levandowski for not complying with the investigation.

 Judge Alsup actually referred this case to the Department of Justice which seemed to have set Levandowski’s termination in motion. Some experts think that the firing of Levandowski was a clever move by Uber’s lawyers as it sends a message to the judge that Uber really did try to abide to the court order and attempted to get Levandowski to comply. However, this termination still does not put Uber in the clear. Thus, Uber has the arduous task of proving, through detailed filings, that they took all the necessary security measures to ensure that none of Google’s documents made its way to Uber.

Unfortunately for Uber, it was found that in early 2016, before the acquisition of Otto, Levandowski had found 5 disks with Waymo information on it and informed then CEO of Uber, Travis Kalanick. Uber’s lawyers claim that Kalanick told Levandowski that “Uber did not want such information and that he should not bring such information to Uber” [1]. However, Uber proceeded to guarantee protection to Levnadowski should he get into any legal trouble, an act that has legal experts quite suspicious.

Still, Waymo has a lot to prove in order to win this case against Uber and Uber has a lot of work ahead to build the defense in their case. We will have to wait till October to find out the outcome of this epic battle.

________________________________________________________________

[1] Aarian Marshall. (July 13 2017). The Uber V. Waymo court chowdown looms. Here’s what you need to know. Wired. Retrieved 14 July 2017.

[2] Picture retrieved from TechCrunch.com