article_snippet: National Geographic Douglas Preston wrote: 'The tops of 52 artifacts were peeking from the earth.
article_snippet: The latest discovery comes after researchers from the University of .
article_snippet: pulses at the ground to create a 3D digital map of the topology beneath .
article_snippet: LiDAR's computer-generated images allow researchers to 'see' through the . forest canopy to the ground surface, revealing any evidence of ancient .
article_snippet: The LiDAR point cloud data clearly show the remains of large .
article_snippet: laser mapping, specifically light detection and ranging (LiDAR) had been . used to locate ancient ruins.
article_snippet: the NCALM and University of Houston engineers first flew over the area and captured the treeline (top), and then were able to 'see through'  to the ground below (bottom image)
article_snippet: The original uses of the technology were to provide intelligence after earthquakes, military spying and for river erosion detection.