Satellite imaging is being used at Easter Island to get a obtain a better understanding of the renowned moai.

The spectrum of sunlight reflected by the Earth's surface contains information about the composition of the surface and it may reveal traces of past human activities, such as agriculture, structures and roads, vegetation and all kinds of rocks have distinctive temperatures and emit heat at different rates which satellite sensors can "see" that ordinary vision can not. Remote Sensing can be used as a methodological procedure for detecting, acquiring inventory and prioritizing surface and shallow-depth archaeological information in a rapid, accurate and quantified manner.Once data and information have been collected researchers and archaeologists will have a better understanding of the symoblic meaning and function of the "moai" statues.