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The primary tool in the aerial imaging toolkit is the camera. What type of imaging needed may impact what equipment you use to peform the survey. The choice of lens, sensor size, and other camera settings can impact the accuracy and quality of output and future digital models. Not all methods of aerial imaging will support cameras that capture LiDAR or Multispectral Imaging (i.e.RGB, Near-infrared, Thermal).
Recently, drones equipped with multispectral and high definition cameras are increasingly popular for aerial surveys, enabling efficient data collection over large areas.
Common Cameras Used in Aerial Surveys
Common Cameras Used in Aerial Surveys
DJI FPV Drone Gimbal Camera for Drone
DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR Scanner for Drones
Multispectral Camera
GoPro Hero Series (good for imaging with low-tech equipment)
Types of Imaging
Photogrammatery[1]
Photogrammatery[1]
Uses 2-dimensional images to create 3-dimensional models that can be used to understand the landscape through maps, elevation models, and more.
LiDar[2]
LiDar[2]
Light Detection and Ranging. Lasers are targeted and the reflections are measured to map the area or feature and translated into a 3-D model. Additionally, LiDAR may reveal hidden structures or unknown elements of artifacts.
Multispectral[3]
Multispectral[3]
Various light spectrum images, such as Near-Infrared, RGB, and Thermal Mapping, identify changes in the landscape and complement methods of low-impact archaeology and cultural revitalization.
[1 ]Safari West 2023[2] Nearly 500 Mesoamerican monuments were found using LiDAR technology. (Inomata, 2021)[3] Top Left to Right: map of structures, RGB map, MSRM (multiscale relief model) Bottom left to right: thermal map, NDIV-normalized distance vegetation index. (red and Near-infrared), PCA-principle component analysis. (Hollesen et al., 2023)
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