LIDAR Discovers Hidden Ancient Amazon Civilization—Unknown Structures Dating Back To 1400 AD

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) was able to discover a hidden ancient Amazon civilization. This just shows that advanced laser tech can be used to analyze unknown places on Earth.

LIDAR Discovers Hidden Ancient Amazon Civilization—Unknown Structures Dating Back To 1400 AD
This LIDAR, Light Detection and Ranging, image of the World Trade Center collapse site in New York released April 19, 2001 shows the topography of the area. Photo by NYC Office of Emergency Management/Getty Images

The main use of LIDAR is to generate high-resolution maps. Because of its efficiency, many tech firms decided to use this innovation for their products.

One of these is Apple's popular iPhone 12 smartphone. The giant gadget maker decided to integrate the laser feature in its handsets so that better AR effects can be generated.

Even automakers, such as Toyota, Uber, and Waymo, are taking advantage of LIDAR. Now, laser tech has been used for a bigger breakthrough.

LIDAR Discovers Hidden Ancient Amazon Civilization

According to TechCrunch's latest report, some archeologists analyzed the land in the Amazon basin using LIDAR. They discovered that some of the unknown structures dated back to 1,400 AD.

LIDAR Discovers Hidden Ancient Amazon Civilization—Unknown Structures Dating Back To 1400 AD
A French engineer gives explanations on the lidar (light detection and ranging), a laser radar used to study the ash cloud of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland, on April 22, 2010 in Palaiseau. Photo credit should read MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP via Getty Images

Heiko Prumers, an archeologist at the German Archaeological Institute, said that finding the hidden ancient civilization in Amazon was unexpected.

"The whole region has been so densely habitated during the pre-hispanic time, that's incredible to believe. There is a new civilization, new culture, waiting for us to study them," said Prumers.

Although the data provided by LIDAR tech looks quite efficient, experts said that further excavations are needed to prove the structures showing on their 3D point cloud.

If you want to see the actual unknown structures of the ancient Amazon civilization, you can watch the short film below.

How LIDAR Works?

American Geosciences Org explained that LIDAR works by using light in form of a laser. This allows it to measure the ranges or variable distances to the Earth.

A LIDAR device commonly consists of a scanner, a laser, as well as a specialized GPS receiver.

Before it was used in smartphones and autonomous vehicles, experts integrated this laser tech into helicopters, airplanes, tanks, and other things that need to scan lands.

If you want to see more details about the advanced LIDAR technology, you can visit this link.

On the other hand, Elon Musk recently explained why Tesla LIDAR innovation is not happening.

Previously, TikTok launched its first AR effect so that users can take advantage of the iPhone 12 Pro LIDAR tech.

For more news updates about LIDAR and other similar innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

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Written by: Griffin Davis

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