Drones in Archaeology. State‐of‐the‐art and Future Perspectives

TLDR

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged over the last decade as advanced remote‑sensing platforms, driving the development of specialized active and passive sensors for archaeological applications. Archaeologists employ UAVs to conduct 3D documentation of excavations, survey monuments, sites, landscapes, and woodland areas, with study extents ranging up to about 10 km². © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract In addition to traditional platforms for low‐level remote sensing (balloons, kites, etc.) new and more complex automated systems [unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones] have become available in the last decade. The success and market expansion of these platforms has been a driving force in the development of active and passive sensors specifically designed for UAVs. In the last few years archaeologists have started testing both platforms and sensors, particularly for the following applications: three‐dimensional (3D) documentation of archaeological excavations; 3D survey of monuments and historic buildings; survey of archaeological sites and landscapes; exploratory aerial survey; and the archaeological survey of woodland areas. The scale of these applications has ranged from site‐based to landscapes‐based (approximately up to about 10 km 2 in extent). The role of such platforms in the archaeological survey of excavations and landscapes, and in diagnostics more generally, is of great interest and is inexorably growing. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.