Overview of use of aerial photography in archaeology

2. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/landscapes-and-areas/aerial-
survey/archaeology

6. Airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) measures the height of the ground
surface and other features in large areas of landscape with a resolution and accuracy
hitherto unavailable, except through labour-intensive field survey or
photogrammetry.
It provides highly detailed and accurate models of the land surface at metre and sub-
metre resolution. This provides archaeologists with the capability to recognise and
record otherwise hard to detect features.

7. Satellite imagery can be used for the
identification of archaeological sites and to
inform heritage management. However, in
England where aerial photography is
readily available, the limitations of cost and
resolution mean that satellite imagery is
rarely used.
Online tools such as Google Earth and Bing Maps are providing imagery
to a wider audience, but it is worth noting that the most detailed views
available on these systems are actually derived from aerial photographs.
Whilst English Heritage continues to use aerial photography as a major
source of information they are involved within wider partnerships in
order to monitor developments including the Forum for Earth
Observation Applications and GMES.