Why We Need Drones: Case Studies from Archaeological Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Surveys in Wadi al-Qattafi and Feifa, Jordan

Dr. Austin (Chad) Hill
ACOR-CAORC Senior Fellow

Tuesday 17 May 2016 at 6:00 p.m.
Reception to Follow

About the Lecture:

In recent years, advances in technology, falling prices, and popular demand have contributed to a worldwide proliferation of drones and a corresponding increase in restrictions and laws limiting their use. Archaeologists have begun to incorporate drones as a critical research tool, along with 3D photogrammetry, for recording excavations and landscapes on a scale and resolution that had previously been impossible. This presentation will discuss results from two recent and ongoing drone survey projects in Jordan at Wadi al-Qattafi and Feifa.  It will examine why drones are an important tool and show how limits on their use hamper research.

About the Lecturer:

Austin (Chad) Hill is currently an ACOR-CAORC Senior Fellow and co-director of the Landscapes of the Dead Project. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Hill specializes in the rapidly developing field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based surveying. His work uses aerial photography and 3D photogrammetry to identify archaeological sites, document excavations, and visualize landscapes.

Read more about Dr. Hill and another ongoing research project with drone mapping in Jordan here.