The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method
Conducting archaeological site surveys is time consuming, and large sites may have many small features or structures that are difficult to locate and interpret. Vegetation cover and dense forest hide small structures, like cairns, while at the same time forest cover can cause problems for LiDAR tool...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/10/2010 |
| _version_ | 1797533360364453888 |
|---|---|
| author | Johanna Roiha Einari Heinaro Markus Holopainen |
| author_facet | Johanna Roiha Einari Heinaro Markus Holopainen |
| author_sort | Johanna Roiha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conducting archaeological site surveys is time consuming, and large sites may have many small features or structures that are difficult to locate and interpret. Vegetation cover and dense forest hide small structures, like cairns, while at the same time forest cover can cause problems for LiDAR tools. In this case study, drone-based ALS (airborne laser scanning) was tested as an archaeological site survey tool. The research site was complex and located partially in a forested area, which made it possible to evaluate how forest cover affects data. The survey methods used were rather simple: visual analysis, point density calculations in the forest area, and, for site interpretation purposes, digitizing observations and viewshed analysis. Using straightforward methods allowed us to evaluate the minimum time and skills needed for this type of survey. Drone-based ALS provided good results and increased knowledge of the site and its structures. Estimates of the number of cairns interpreted as graves more than doubled as a result of the high-accuracy ALS data. Based on the results of this study, drone-based ALS could be a suitable high-accuracy survey method for large archaeological sites. However, forest cover affects the accuracy, and more research is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:13:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f11d7eb52a64881a02f25b3521d03a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:13:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f11d7eb52a64881a02f25b3521d03a82023-11-21T20:35:55ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-05-011310201010.3390/rs13102010The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey MethodJohanna Roiha0Einari Heinaro1Markus Holopainen2Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandConducting archaeological site surveys is time consuming, and large sites may have many small features or structures that are difficult to locate and interpret. Vegetation cover and dense forest hide small structures, like cairns, while at the same time forest cover can cause problems for LiDAR tools. In this case study, drone-based ALS (airborne laser scanning) was tested as an archaeological site survey tool. The research site was complex and located partially in a forested area, which made it possible to evaluate how forest cover affects data. The survey methods used were rather simple: visual analysis, point density calculations in the forest area, and, for site interpretation purposes, digitizing observations and viewshed analysis. Using straightforward methods allowed us to evaluate the minimum time and skills needed for this type of survey. Drone-based ALS provided good results and increased knowledge of the site and its structures. Estimates of the number of cairns interpreted as graves more than doubled as a result of the high-accuracy ALS data. Based on the results of this study, drone-based ALS could be a suitable high-accuracy survey method for large archaeological sites. However, forest cover affects the accuracy, and more research is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/10/2010archaeologyremote sensingLiDARdroneUAVsurvey |
| spellingShingle | Johanna Roiha Einari Heinaro Markus Holopainen The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method Remote Sensing archaeology remote sensing LiDAR drone UAV survey |
| title | The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method |
| title_full | The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method |
| title_fullStr | The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method |
| title_short | The Hidden Cairns—A Case Study of Drone-Based ALS as an Archaeological Site Survey Method |
| title_sort | hidden cairns a case study of drone based als as an archaeological site survey method |
| topic | archaeology remote sensing LiDAR drone UAV survey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/10/2010 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johannaroiha thehiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod AT einariheinaro thehiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod AT markusholopainen thehiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod AT johannaroiha hiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod AT einariheinaro hiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod AT markusholopainen hiddencairnsacasestudyofdronebasedalsasanarchaeologicalsitesurveymethod |