Last week, Aerial photograph analyst, Joel travelled to Northumberland to deliver a training session on the use of aerial imagery for archaeological investigation and mapping to a group of volunteers as part of the Cresswell Pele Tower Project. Here’s his retelling of the day:
‘The course consisted of a short introduction to aerial survey, followed by training in the interpretation of aerial imagery and how to avoid common pitfalls when studying aerial photographs. The group completed activities designed to teach some of the methodology behind aerial mapping, as well as the importance of accessing as wide a range of imagery as possible when interpreting sites. Aerial imagery has recently become much more accessible through software such as Google Earth and the Environment Agency’s open source Lidar data. The group were keep to learn how to utilise these for other projects they were engaged in and I was able to run them through the use of this software and address some issues they were having interpreting Lidar imagery.
I had a brilliant day and enjoyed the challenging questions thrown at me by the group, as well as the occasional mockery of my soft southern (Yorkshire) accent!’
To learn more about the Cresswell Pele Tower Project visit the website here.