The author rode in a Lidar plane and described the process. They do many flyovers. The computer averages the images after the fact. It is unlikely that a leaf is in the same place for each flyover, unlike the ground.
I think this guy appears in this book, although I’m not entirely sure. Either way, if the topic intrigues, you’d enjoy the read for further context on the obsession with these ruins.
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-City-Monkey-God-Story/dp/1455569410
A great book on this topic is The Lost City of the Monkey God
I'm waiting for the movie to come out. The book was excellent!
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-City-Monkey-God-Story/dp/1455569410#immersive-view_1630664137433
Hey Reddit, just read a book about Amazon rainforest explorers. One of the (side) stories was about two men who found a cave full of "crystal skulls" perfectly preserved from thousands of years ago. Apparently the minerals(?) in the cave "crystallized" the bones - I can't imagine what those men though when they entered that cave!
​
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-City-Monkey-God-Story/dp/1455569410
​
If you're short on time, the Nat Geo article on the exhibition: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150302-honduras-lost-city-monkey-god-maya-ancient-archaeology/
​
Wikipedia article on the cave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talgua_caves