A Methodological Framework for Free and Open-Source UAV-Based Archaeological Research
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13085142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kelsey M Reese (0000-0001-5127-7622, University of Notre Dame, corresponding author), Sean Field (0000-0002-3144-5796, University of Notre Dame) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 394-401 |
| Publication date | 2021-10-29 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Advances in Archaeological Practice (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2326-3768 • E-ISSN: 2326-3768 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/aap.2021.27 |
| OpenAlex | W3209143117 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 8 |
Full-coverage pedestrian survey to record cultural features on unexplored archaeological landscapes is costly in terms of time, money, and personnel. Over the past two decades, researchers have implemented remote sensing and landscape data collection techniques using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to combat some of these burdens, but the initial cost of equipment, software, and processing power has hindered the ubiquitous implementation of UAV technology as an accessible companion tool to traditional archaeological survey. This article presents a free and open-source, technology-independent analytical framework for the collection and processing of UAV images to produce high-resolution digital terrain models limited only by the equipment available to the researcher. Results from the free and open-source protocol are directly compared to those produced using proprietary software to illustrate the capabilities of freely available data processing tools for UAV-collected images. By replicating the methods outlined here, researchers should be able to identify and target areas of interest to increase fieldwork efficiency, decrease costs of implementing this technology, and produce high-resolution digital terrain models to conduct spatial analyses that pursue a deeper understanding of cultural landscapes
Aerial Survey · Archaeology · Cartography · Data collection · Data science · Geography · Open source software · Photogrammetry · Processing · Remote sensing · Terrain · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage · Archaeological Research and Protection · Computer Science · Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications · Artificial Intelligence · Software
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |