Exploring Hidden Tunnels Beneath Teotihuacan Using Remote Sensing
"The tunnel was mapped using geo-radar imaging, laser scanners, and a small fleet of remote-controlled robots...". Click on the image to learn more about this project.
The ancient Mesoamerican site known as Teotihuacan is located about 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, Mexico. Teotihuacan is believed to have been established around 100 BCE. At its height, Teotihuacan is estimated to have a population of around 125,000 residents.
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Archaeologists and researchers have used remote sensing to map Teotihuacan's massive city limits and the structures within. Aerial remote sensing has been used to map the massive complex.
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However, it was only recently that a different type of remote sensing was used to discover Teotihuacan. In 2009, archaeologists were granted permission to begin excavating recently discovered tunnels beneath the Temple of the Plumed Serpent. Tlaloc II is one of two small remote-controlled robots used to map the newly discovered tunnels. Tlaloc II is equipped with infrared scanners and video cameras to map the underground cavities.
