Making LiGHT Work of Large Area Survey? Developing Approaches to Rapid Archaeological Mapping and the Creation of Systematic National-scaled Heritage Data

Abstract

The characteristics and form of heritage data are fundamental to its utility in a range of applications, particularly so for heritage agencies who have a remit in management, policy, and the creation and curation of national databases of monuments, sites, and landscapes. Written from the perspective of an archaeological survey function in a national heritage agency, this paper draws on preliminary outcomes from a research and development project that aims to proof protocols for creating systematic data across large areas drawing heavily on remotely sensed data. This recognises that a systemic consideration of the implications of changing technology and data is sometimes desirable, rather than gradual assimilation of developments into existing practice. In particular, the issues being addressed relate to the challenges and opportunities of proliferating remote sensed data and digital workflows. These include the strategic assessment of threat, consideration of fitness for purpose of different datasets relative to landscape characteristics, the documentation of processes and sources of information, the suitability of data structures, and the mechanisms for automating site detection and data creation.

Towards a Satellite System for Archaeology? Simulation of an Optical Satellite Mission with Ideal Spatial and Temporal Resolution, Illustrated by a Case Study in Scotland

“…The required GSD is specified at <1 m to enable clear identification of archaeological features at a scale of 1 m and smaller, where a higher GSD would result in insufficient spatial resolving power to do so (Figure 1). A core objective is to contribute to the creation of systematic national data [13,14], and because of this aspiration to deal with very large areas, solutions like UAVs or localised survey methods do not provide the necessary data coverage. Within this general framework, a specific aspect of scope focusses on those otherwise buried archaeological remains that are expressed through crop proxies.…”

A modified Mask region‐based convolutional neural network approach for the automated detection of archaeological sites on high‐resolution light detection and ranging‐derived digital elevation models in the North German Lowland

“…The increasing availability of airborne high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data has led to an ever-growing interest in applying remote sensing to the archaeological domain, in which the use of machine learning techniques is now also increasing (e.g., Cowley et al, 2020;Davis, 2018;Opitz & Herrmann, 2018).…”

A Snapshot in Time: a review of current approaches to archaeological archiving in Scotland

“…More of the large volume digital data models created by HES and other organisations needs to be formally archived within the NRHE. Drawing heavily on remotely sensed data, the HES Rapid Archaeological Mapping Project (RAMP) (Cowley et al 2020) aims to create a rapid analysis and identification of archaeological sites nationally. RAMP will also be developing capacity and expertise in geophysical survey, informing practice and deposition.…”