AI and terrain data uncover ‘unknown ruins’ — Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties hopes for public participation (Part 1 of 3)

Nara National Research Institute is using AI to analyze Hyogo Prefecture’s high-resolution terrain data and automatically flag possible kofun sites on GIS maps.

The goal is to find unknown mountain-area ruins that are unlikely to be surveyed without development projects, making discovery more efficient.

Early tests showed some false positives, but the researchers confirmed the method has real potential for identifying archaeological candidates.

Open terrain and aerial laser data combined with AI could speed up discovery of hidden heritage sites and support cultural preservation.