The Use of UAV in Archaeological Excavation: A Case Study in Şanlıurfa Historical Castle (original) (raw)
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Journal of Field Archaeology, 2018
Open access, click on: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00934690.2018.1465808\. Low-altitude photography in archaeology is now common practice at the scale of excavations; however, landscape-scale applications are a relatively new endeavor with promising analytical potential. From 2014–2016, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a mounted camera was used to document sites recorded as part of the Eastern Habur Archaeological Survey (EHAS), an archaeological reconnaissance project in western Dohuk Province, Iraqi Kurdistan. The EHAS team documented over 70 archaeological sites with the UAV, from single-phase artifact scatters, to archaeological remains with standing architecture, to tells that cover more than 30 hectares. Representative examples from this survey are presented here to outline the project workflow and primary output data layers, including digital orthomosaics and digital elevation models. The quality and utility of results are then assessed in relationship to available satellite-based data. Methods for analysis and interpretation are then considered to demonstrate applications in landscape archaeology
Journal of Field Archaeology 43:4, 269-283, 2018
Low-altitude photography in archaeology is now common practice at the scale of excavations; however, landscape-scale applications are a relatively new endeavor with promising analytical potential. From 2014-2016, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a mounted camera was used to document sites recorded as part of the Eastern H abur Archaeological Survey (EH AS), an archaeological reconnaissance project in western Dohuk Province, Iraqi Kurdistan. The EH AS team documented over 70 archaeological sites with the UAV, from single-phase artifact scatters, to archaeological remains with standing architecture, to tells that cover more than 30 hectares. Representative examples from this survey are presented here to outline the project workflow and primary output data layers, including digital orthomosaics and digital elevation models. The quality and utility of results are then assessed in relationship to available satellite-based data. Methods for analysis and interpretation are then considered to demonstrate applications in landscape archaeology.
2018
Long-term cultural heritage protection is an essential condition for the sustainable development and preservation of territorial identity. Good documentation and registration of heritage objects allows for knowing, preserving and passing them to the future generations. Cultural heritage registration currently uses different techniques and methods of documentation, especially in archeology. In order to document archaeological sites and obtain their 3D digital models, several methods are possible, such as the combination of terrestrial recording and photogrammetric aerial methods, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) drones. GIS and GPS were used to obtain the contours coordinates for several archaeological sites in Tulcea County from 2007 location data from a geospatial system for the location and protection of archaeological sites in conjunction with the UAV technology (a multi-rotor drone), along with a high-precision GPS (GPS Rover GNSS RTK ComNav T300), and specific software lik...
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE MONITORING: UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY CAN BE AN ANSWER
ABSTRACT: During archaeological excavations it is important to monitor the new excavated areas and findings day by day in order to be able to plan future excavation activities. At present, this daily activity is usually performed by using total stations, which survey the changes of the archaeological site: the surveyors are asked to produce day by day draft plans and sections which allow archaeologists to plan their future activities.
Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage
The shrinkage of the sensors installed in unmanned aerial vehicles and the increase in data quality have provided great advantages to UAV users, especially in analysis and interpretation works. Archaeologists, in particular, can take full advantage of new opportunities to research and identify objects and artifacts, using remote sensing methods, by studying the past at excavation sites using modern technologies such as UAVs. These methods enable researchers to discover objects on the ground with the help of sensors. This study includes the UAV monitoring, documentation, and analyses of the excavation works that took place in 2014 (phase 1), 2017 (phase 2- phase 3), and 2020 (phase 4) at the Ancient Theatre of Uzuncaburç built in the Roman Empire. For this purpose, photos were taken with the UAV for each phase, and measurements were made from the excavation site's points with precision gauges (total-station and GNSS). 3D point cloud, orthophoto map, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) ...
A Study of the possible uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Archaeology
This report investigates recent advances in aerial image capture, recording, analysis and use in field archaeological studies. Aerial imagery and remote sensing has long been used in field archaeology. Recent technological advances, especially using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (U.A.Vs), have provided opportunities to greatly expand its deployment and utility. Images can now be captured in very high resolution, quickly and efficiently and at a tiny fraction of former costs. This offers new possibilities that could be very beneficial in field archaeology. This report considers the technical and legal requirements that define the capability of U.A.V. equipment and operators to conduct field studies. It discusses, with real examples, new potential offered by this methodology, its present limitations and suggests some future research to further enhance this potential. The results achieved by the author have been varied throughout the research phase and need further refinement. However the results have been of sufficient quality to prove the technologies and the potential applications to archaeology
UAV’S GEO-ARCHEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS: A CASE OF NIHA FORTRESS
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for surveying archaeological sites be- came widely very useful due to their rapidity, low costs and high accuracy. The main motivation of this study is to generate high-resolution information of inaccessible areas, such as maps, ortho-images, detailed elevation models and 3D models extraction of dangerous obstacles such as the cliff of Niha fortress (Lebanon). The obtained cartographic database used in a 3D-modeling for archéologie documentation and reconstruction of the Fortress. Geo-archeology shows feasibility of integration between different sciences, close range photogrammetry helped on the identification of archeological sites and the generation of maps. Our study presents the results of archaeological photogrammetric survey of Niha fortress by using UAV systems, which became a widely used technology for geographical and archéologie applications.
UAV photogrammetry for archaeological site survey. 3D models at the Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey)
Virtual Archaeology Review
• The paper aims to validate UAV photogrammetry as a very flexible tool for archaeological areas; a fix wing eBee device by Sensefly is tested. • Derived DSM and aerial orthoimages in complex areas with different formal traits are discussed, targeting high mansory ruins and collapsed parts. • Up to 2 cm accuracy and high resolution 3D models are convenient to extract morphological data.
Technical Briefs in Historical Archaeology 9:41–48, 2015
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or ‘drones’ as they have come to be known, are now widely popular in many countries around the world. The newest versions are affordable, easily controlled, and can provide a very useful platform for aerial imagery, videography, and photogrammetry at archaeological sites. They have particularly useful applications at historical sites with standing architecture or surface features, and can help reveal structural layouts and details not visible from the ground. Part I of this discussion covered how to get started with an UAV for archaeology, the legal issues, the nature and costs of the equipment, flight control, and the pitfalls to be avoided. Part II will cover the primary applications for archaeology (particularly historical archaeology), some of the important attributes of digital cameras, aerial imaging, and post-processing of such data, and the potential future applications of UAV-based techniques.