Monitoring heritage sites f
Aerial photograph from February 2020 clearly showing the main ‘desire lines’, or routes people take, when visiting Arbor Low. Hundreds of aerial images are combined to generate a 3D digital model
HELEN MALBON describes how aerial technology is shedding new light on sensitive archaeological sites
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ACID | 2022
M
y Physical Geography PhD research at Keele University has been focused on using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) at four earthwork heritage sites in the Peak District: Arbor Low, Gib Hill, Pilsbury Castle Hills (see Picturing the Past, p36) and Bull Ring at Dove Holes. The aim of the research was to demonstrate that aerial imagery alone can be used in low vegetation areas, such as open moorland, to document heritage landscapes and features to aid monitoring and preservation. This was done by creating photorealistic 3D models and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). These were imported
