Looking down on archaeology – flying drones over archaeological sites

Lecture by Dr Ing. John Betts, Senior lecturer, Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or as they are called colloquially, drones, have supported the documentation of cultural heritage and archaeology for over two decades, with their use and potential having increased dramatically in the last six years as a result of the greater accessibility to affordable off-the-shelf drones with useful capabilities. The technology behind these small but useful remote-sensing platforms, which can be used for aerial photography, survey and archaeological prospection, has facilitated the generation of image products ranging from photographic records to orthophotomosaics and 3D models, and has enhanced the capability of rapidly documenting and monitoring sensitive locations. The basic concepts defining the use of UAVs and their potential and limitations will be considered, and examples of use by the Low Altitude Remote Sensing Over Compact Sites (LARSOCS) project of the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the University of Malta will be presented.