Training centre
Learn DeepGPR step by step
Every step, screen and term, from entering your first coordinate to downloading a PDF report. No geophysics background needed; written for archaeologists, engineers, students and curious minds alike.
01
What is DeepGPR?
DeepGPR is a pre-survey platform that lets you study the surface and subsurface of any point on Earth before you dig or even visit. It combines measured data from satellites, elevation models, magnetic field maps and soil databases on a single screen, interprets it and translates it into language anyone can follow.
What it does
- Prepares high-resolution satellite imagery and a 3D terrain model of the square you choose.
- Finds man-made surface traces such as mounds, wall lines, ditches and crop marks, and marks them on the map.
- Estimates possible buried targets and their depth from magnetic, soil, moisture and rock data.
- Recommends which instrument to take to the field and how to use it; turns the results into a PDF report.
What it doesn't do
- It does not photograph the subsurface; remote data gives clues, proof comes from field measurement.
- It does not find treasure, gold or metal; the goal is scientific pre-survey and heritage protection.
- It does not replace an excavation permit. Unauthorised digging is a crime in Turkey under Law No. 2863.
Who it's for
- Archaeologists and survey teams: site selection, pre-assessment, reporting.
- Geophysicists and geologists: planning GPR/magnetometer surveys, overlaying field data.
- Engineers, museums, municipalities and students: quickly understanding a site's past and risk.
The journey of an analysis
- 1
Location
You pick a point from the map, a place name or coordinates.
- 2
Data
Satellite, elevation, magnetic, soil and climate data are fetched for that area.
- 3
Processing
Micro-relief, vegetation indices, anomalies and a depth model are computed.
- 4
Interpretation
Each trace is reviewed through an archaeologist's eyes.
- 5
Result
Potential score, map, 3D model, field plan and PDF report are ready.
02
Your first analysis
An analysis scans a square area centred on the point you choose. Follow these six steps to launch your first one in a few minutes.
- 1
Create an account and sign in
Sign up with the “Create account” button at the top right. After signing in, your dashboard opens, showing your credit balance and past analyses.
TipOn a phone, add the site to your home screen; it opens full screen like an app. - 2
Check your credit balance
A new analysis costs 1 credit. Reopening a finished analysis, browsing its tabs and printing the report are free. If an analysis fails for technical reasons, the credits spent are refunded automatically.
- 3
Open the “New analysis” screen
Tap “Start analysis” on the dashboard (or the “New analysis” tab in the bottom bar on a phone). Settings appear on the left and a large map on the right.
- 4
Set the location
Search for a place, paste coordinates, click the map or use “Use my location”. The chosen point appears as an orange square on the map. Every method is explained in detail in the next section.
TipDrag the orange square to move it, and use the white corner handle to resize it. - 5
Choose the area size and a name
Pick a preset of 100, 250, 500 or 1000 m, or enter a custom side length between 50 and 2000 m. Optionally give the analysis a name like “Field — north plot”; it will be listed under that name.
Tip250 m is a good start for a single mound or building, 500 m for a site, 1000 m for a wide valley. - 6
Press “Start analysis” and wait
The analysis is queued and usually finishes within a few minutes. It keeps running even if you close the page; when done it shows as “Completed” on your dashboard. If it fails, your credit is refunded automatically.
03
Location & coordinates
DeepGPR accepts a location in five ways. Use whichever is easiest; they all lead to the same result.
Search by place name
Type at least 3 letters into the search box above the map: a village, district, archaeological site or mountain. Choose the right entry from the list and the map flies there and drops the point.
ExampleGöreme · Sagalassos · Hasankeyf
Paste coordinates
Paste a coordinate into the search box or the Latitude box. It is recognised as a coordinate and a “Go to coordinates” option appears. Paste latitude and longitude together and both boxes fill in.
Example37.243061, 32.594164
Click the map
Click or tap any point on the map. Zoom into the satellite image to see field edges, roads and bumps and pick the exact spot.
Use my location
In the field, this button takes your position from your phone's GPS. Choose “Allow” if the browser asks for location access.
Draw the area
Press “Draw area with mouse”, then press and drag on the map to draw the square to scan. The centre and size follow your drawing.
- 1Search box: type a place name or paste a coordinate.
- 2“Go to coordinates” suggestion: your pasted coordinate, converted to decimal; click it and the map flies there.
- 3Latitude and longitude fill in automatically; correct them by hand if needed.
- 4“Use my location”: takes your phone's GPS position in the field.
- 5Area size: pick a preset or enter a custom size.
- 6“Draw area with mouse”: draw the square to scan yourself.
- 7The orange square is the area to scan; drag to move it, resize it with the corner handle.
Accepted coordinate formats
It doesn't matter where you copied the coordinate from; all of these formats are recognised. Latitude (north–south) comes first, longitude (east–west) second.
| Format | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal degrees | Used by Google Maps and most GPS units. The most reliable option. | |
| Decimal comma | Numbers typed with a decimal comma are read correctly too. | |
| Degrees-minutes-seconds | Google Earth format. Copy and paste as is. | |
| Turkish hemisphere letters | K = North, G = South, D = East, B = West. | |
| Degrees and decimal minutes | Used by some handheld GPS units and nautical charts. | |
| Space separated | If symbols are hard to type, separate degrees, minutes and seconds with spaces. |
Getting coordinates from Google Earth
- 1Drop a placemark (yellow pin) on the place of interest in Google Earth.
- 2Find the Latitude and Longitude lines in the placemark's properties window.
- 3Select and copy latitude and longitude together.
- 4Paste into DeepGPR's Latitude box; longitude fills in automatically.
Getting coordinates from Google Maps
- 1Right-click the place on the map (long-press on a phone).
- 2Click the numbers at the top of the menu; the coordinate is copied.
- 3Paste into DeepGPR's search box and choose “Go to coordinates”.
How to choose the area size
Smaller areas give more detailed imagery; larger ones show more context. The credit cost does not depend on size.
| Side | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 1 ha | A single building, grave or test point; the sharpest imagery. |
| 250 m | 6.25 ha | A mound, small settlement or field; the recommended size for most work. |
| 500 m | 25 ha | An archaeological site, necropolis or village surroundings. |
| 1000 m | 100 ha | A valley, part of a plain or a general survey sweep. |
04
The results screen
When the analysis finishes, tabs appear at the top, the map on the left and a summary on the right. Each tab shows a different side of the same area. Suggested order for beginners: Overview → Structure sketch → 3D model → Time.
- 1Tabs: switch between different sides of the results.
- 2Archaeological potential score and the reasons behind it.
- 3Where to look first: spots in priority order with coordinates.
- 4“Directions”: navigate to the spot with your phone's map app.
- 5What to do: steps to take in the field.
- 6Report: download as PDF or Google Earth (KML).
Overview
What it shows
The site's archaeological potential score (0–100), the reasons behind it, structures found in the satellite image, possible buried targets and what to do in the field.
When to use it
Always look here first. It answers “is there something here, and where should I look?” on one screen.
Structure sketch
What it shows
A scaled technical sketch of the traces with a north arrow; a cross-section, recommended instrument and survey lines for every target.
When to use it
Before going to the field. Print it for the team or copy target coordinates.
3D model
What it shows
A rotatable 3D terrain model: clay view, raking sunlight, contour lines, profile and measurement between two points.
When to use it
To understand relief such as mounds, banks, terraces and ditches. Lowering the sun brings out faint traces.
Magnetic
What it shows
Magnetic field values, the regional anomaly and a simulator showing which features a field magnetometer would detect, and to what depth.
When to use it
When planning a magnetometer or gradiometer survey; when looking for kilns, hearths, brick buildings or ditches.
Soil & radar
What it shows
Soil texture, moisture, a layer section and how deep GPR can penetrate in this soil; which antenna frequency fits.
When to use it
Before hiring or taking a GPR (ground-penetrating radar) to the site. GPR stays shallow in wet clay.
Surface
What it shows
Micro-relief map, vegetation and moisture indices (NDVI/NDMI), mounds, hollows and vegetation marks.
When to use it
To see subtle bumps and crop marks that are hard to spot by eye.
Time
What it shows
Satellite images of the same area over the years, multi-year vegetation marks and a reading of changes through time.
When to use it
To tell whether a trace is persistent or one-off (ploughing, shadow, moisture), and to track looting and damage.
Field data
What it shows
Your GPR, magnetometer, drone or GPS data from the field, overlaid on the same map.
When to use it
After measuring in the field; to compare remote results with field readings.
Geology
What it shows
A short summary of rock type, age, seismicity and the local geological setting.
When to use it
To judge bedrock depth and the risk of natural features (karst, sinkholes) being mistaken for structures.
Sources
What it shows
Name, resolution, date and licence of every dataset used.
When to use it
When you need to cite sources in your report, or wonder which data a result comes from.
Real screens from the tabs
05
Map & colours
Every colour and shape on the map means something. This section explains how to read the marks and scores on the results screen.
- 1Summary and filters: All / Surface / Subsurface / Dismissed.
- 2Detection frame: its order and structure type (e.g. D1 · Ancient theatre).
- 3Possible buried target: colour shows the type, the text beside it the confidence.
- 4Map tools: labels, traces, relief and raking-light layers.
Archaeological potential score
The card at the top of the Overview sums up how promising the area is with a single score from 0 to 100. It is built from whether the area lies within or near a known site, structures seen in the satellite image, buried targets, traces that recur over the years and field measurements. The card lists the reasons point by point.
Low
0–14
Medium
15–34
High
35–59
Very high
60–100
Surface traces
- Mound / rise. A rise above its surroundings. Could be a mound, tumulus, rubble heap or bank.
- Pit / depression. A hollow below its surroundings. Could be a ditch, cistern, collapsed chamber, looting pit or natural sinkhole.
- Strong vegetation mark. A strip of lusher vegetation. Suggests moisture-holding fill, a ditch or pit below.
- Weak vegetation mark. A strip of weaker vegetation. Suggests a wall, paving or road blocking roots below.
Possible buried targets
Targets derived from combining remote data are coloured by type:
- Structural remains
- Burial / pit
- Void / underground space
- Ditch / road
- Metal
- Field measurement
Confidence levels
- High. Several independent datasets point to the same spot. The first place to check in the field.
- Medium. A clear trace, but based on a single dataset. Field verification needed.
- Low. A weak trace that could be natural. Kept in the list, but not a priority.
Map layers
The “All / Surface / Subsurface” buttons above the map filter the marks: “Surface” shows structures clearly visible in the satellite image plus recorded sites, “Subsurface” shows traces not visible on the surface that may point to something buried. Traces judged modern (road, field, building) or natural (gully, rock) are dimmed and grouped under “Dismissed traces”.
06
Image interpretation
DeepGPR's image interpretation splits the satellite image into high-resolution tiles and examines each one through an archaeologist's eyes. There are three features:
Image interpretation
Run it with the “Generate” button on the Overview tab. It marks wall and foundation lines, theatres, mounds, roads, terraces, looting pits and more, and states whether each trace is a surface structure, a possible buried trace, or modern or natural.
Closer look
Verifies or rejects each marked structure one by one using the sharpest close-ups, then rescans the whole area section by section with contrast-enhanced images and adds structures missed at first glance.
Reading across the years
On the Time tab, compares satellite images taken in different years and marks crop and soil marks, lost structures, new looting and damage.
Limits of image interpretation
- It only interprets what is visible on the surface; it cannot see underground.
- It performs worse on cloudy, snowy or low-resolution imagery; image quality is shown on the card.
- It can be wrong. Every reading is a clue, not proof; field verification is required.
07
Field data & devices
Remote analysis guides the fieldwork; field measurement gives the definitive answer. DeepGPR interprets your field data on the same screen.
Field data tab
Upload a GPR profile, GPR grid, magnetometer table, drone elevation data or GPS points from the “Field data” tab inside an analysis. Data are overlaid on the satellite results and added to the report. Upload price: 1 credit; files that can't be processed are refunded.
Device output analysis
In the dashboard's “Device” tab, upload a GPR, 3D ground scanner, magnetometer or detector screenshot, or a CSV/XYZ survey table exported by the device, without any coordinates. Hyperbolas, voids, layers and metal signatures are marked, and your questions are answered (each question: free).
Field plan
The Structure sketch tab gives the survey area, line spacing, line direction and recommended instrument for every target. A “Directions” link takes you to the target with your phone's map app.
08
Reports & sharing
Four ways to share results with your team, adviser or museum specialist:
PDF report
The “PDF report” button on the analysis page prepares a printable report with summary, potential score, map, structure sketch, 3D view, layers and sources. Choose “Save as PDF” in the browser's print dialog.
Device analysis report
Every completed device analysis also has a “PDF report” button. It puts the recognised output, overall interpretation, marked images, findings list, cautions, field suggestions and the answers to your questions on an A4 page.
Google Earth (KML)
Detected targets and the analysis area download as a KML file you can open in Google Earth or your field GPS.
Image and coordinates
Use “Download PNG” on the 3D model tab for a high-resolution image, and copy any target's coordinates with one tap.
09
Glossary
Plain explanations of the terms you'll meet on the results screens. Start typing to search.
- Analysis areaLocation
- The square centred on your chosen point that is scanned across all data sources.
- AnomalyGeophysics
- A measurement that departs clearly from the normal value around it. Not every anomaly is a structure; it may be rock, a pipe or modern metal.
- Antenna frequency (MHz)Geophysics
- GPR operating frequency. High frequency (500 MHz) sees shallow but detailed; low frequency (100–250 MHz) sees deep but coarse.
- Archaeological siteArchaeology
- A place with remains of an old settlement or structure.
- BedrockGeophysics
- Solid rock beneath soil and weathered layers. Buried structures usually lie in the layers above it.
- Confidence levelData
- How solid a detection is: high, medium or low. A priority order, not proof.
- Contour lineSurface
- A line joining points of equal height. Dense lines mean steep slopes; closed rings show a hill or hollow.
- Crop markArchaeology
- A strip where crops grow lusher or weaker because of a buried feature. Seen from above, the feature's plan appears.
- Decimal degreesLocation
- A coordinate written as a single number (37.243061). Five decimal places give about 1 m precision.
- Dielectric constantGeophysics
- How much soil slows radar waves. It rises with moisture, reducing GPR depth.
- DMS (degrees-minutes-seconds)Location
- A coordinate written in three parts like 37°14'35". 1 degree = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60 seconds.
- Elevation model (DEM)Surface
- A digital map giving the height above sea level of every point. The 3D model is built from it.
- EMAG2Data
- A global magnetic anomaly map. It shows regional geology but cannot see individual structures; a field magnetometer is needed.
- Esri WaybackData
- An archive of high-resolution satellite images of the same place from different years. The Time tab uses it.
- GPR (ground-penetrating radar)Geophysics
- An instrument that sends radio waves into the ground and records reflections. Shows walls, voids, tomb chambers and layers in section.
- GradiometerGeophysics
- A magnetometer with two stacked sensors. Measuring the difference suppresses deep geology and highlights shallow archaeology.
- Hectare (ha)Location
- An area unit of 10,000 m²; a 100 × 100 m square.
- Höyük (tell)Archaeology
- An artificial hill formed by settlements built on top of each other over thousands of years.
- HyperbolaGeophysics
- An inverted-U reflection in a GPR section. The signature of a point target such as a pipe, stone or wall corner.
- IGRFGeophysics
- The international reference model of Earth's magnetic field. Subtracted from a reading, it leaves the local anomaly.
- KMLData
- A location file format read by Google Earth and GPS devices.
- LatitudeLocation
- A point's north–south position relative to the Equator. Turkey lies between 36° and 42°.
- LongitudeLocation
- A point's east–west position relative to Greenwich. Turkey lies between 26° and 45°.
- LootingArchaeology
- Unauthorised digging. Usually seen from space as scattered fresh pits; report it to the authorities.
- Magnetic fieldGeophysics
- The natural magnetic field around the Earth. Burnt soil, brick and iron distort it locally.
- MagnetometerGeophysics
- An instrument that measures the magnetic field. Very effective at finding kilns, hearths, brick walls, ditches and pit fills.
- Micro-relief (LRM)Surface
- Small height differences left after removing the general slope. Reveals levelled mounds, banks and ditches.
- NDMISurface
- An index of moisture in plants and soil. Moisture differences can betray the edges of buried structures.
- NDVISurface
- A vegetation health index computed from satellite imagery. Low over buried walls, high over buried ditches.
- NecropolisArchaeology
- An ancient cemetery.
- nT (nanotesla)Geophysics
- Unit of magnetic field strength. Earth's field is about 45,000–50,000 nT; a kiln makes a difference of a few tens of nT.
- Penetration depthGeophysics
- The greatest depth a GPR signal can reach. Several metres in dry sand, down to half a metre in wet clay.
- ProfileSurface
- A side view of the ground between two points, giving length, rise and gradient.
- Protected site (sit)Archaeology
- An area registered and protected as cultural heritage. Any digging or building there requires permission.
- Raking lightSurface
- Sunlight from a low angle. Long shadows bring out the smallest relief; a classic archaeological technique.
- ResistivityGeophysics
- The soil's resistance to electric current. Stone walls read high, damp fills low.
- ResolutionData
- The ground size covered by one image pixel. At 0.5 m resolution a car is about 8 pixels long.
- Sentinel-2Data
- The European Space Agency's free 10 m satellite that revisits the same place every few days. Vegetation indices come from it.
- SlopeSurface
- How steep the ground is. Sudden changes can mark terrace, wall or bank edges.
- Soil markArchaeology
- A colour difference in a ploughed field caused by stone, ash or brick from a buried feature.
- TumulusArchaeology
- A monumental burial mound of earth and stone heaped over a tomb chamber.
- Vertical exaggerationSurface
- Enlarging heights relative to horizontal distance in the 3D model. ×3 means heights are exaggerated threefold.
10
FAQ
Surface traces and elevation come from measured data and are reliable. Buried targets are estimated by combining several datasets, so they come with a confidence level. For a definitive answer, verify in the field with GPR or a magnetometer.
You're ready
Start your first analysis; you can come back to this guide whenever you get stuck on the results screen.