A New Era in Spatial Data Recording

Low-Cost GNSS

Bibliographic Data

ID13085498
AuthorsAustin C Hill (0000-0002-8397-8105, Dartmouth College, corresponding author), Fred Limp (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville), J Casana (0000-0002-4445-1802, Dartmouth College), Elise Jakoby Laugier (0000-0002-4313-4821, Dartmouth College), Malcolm Williamson (0000-0002-9120-0248, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville)
Year2019
Volume7
Issue2
Pages169-177
Publication date2019-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAdvances in Archaeological Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2326-3768 • E-ISSN: 2326-3768
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/aap.2018.50
OpenAlexW2945020401
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited6

Archaeologists have long recognized that precise three-dimensional coordinates are critical for recording objects and features across sites and landscapes. Traditionally, for relatively small areas, an optical transit or, more recently, an electronic distance measurement device (EDM) has been used to acquire these three-dimensional points. While effective, such systems have significant limitations in that they require a clear line of site. Real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS/GNSS systems (Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite Systems) have been available for well over a decade, and can provide quick and accurate point measurements over a wide area without many of the limitation of older technologies. The cost of such systems, however, has generally been prohibitive for archaeologists, and so their use has been rare. Recently, a new generation of low-cost systems has become available, making this technology more accessible to a wider user base. This article describes the use, accuracy, and limitations of one such low-cost system, the Emlid Reach RS, to show why this is an important tool for archaeological fieldwork

Data science · Global Positioning System · GNSS applications · Point (geometry · Real-time computing · Satellite · Satellite system · Systems engineering · Telecommunications · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage · Computer Science · Engineering · GNSS positioning and interference · Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications · Aerospace Engineering