From low cost UAV survey to high resolution topographic data : developing our understanding of a Medieval outport of Bruges

This paper assesses the application of a consumer-grade UAV solution for the image-based 3D reconstruction of a buried Medieval landscape at Monnikerede, a deserted former outport of Bruges, with the archaeological aim to achieve a better characterisation of the (micro)topography and ultimately a better understanding of the site. The UAV survey resulted in a highly detailed and accurate 3D model of the terrain, allowing a thorough topographic analysis of the complex archaeological landscape. Application of algorithms to produce an enhanced visualisation of the topographic variability led to a sequence of derivatives each highlighting the topography in a different way. Additionally, a decorrelation stretch was applied on the collected imagery, allowing the generation of enhanced orthophotos shedding yet another light on the archaeological landscape. Integrating the (enhanced) orthophoto(s) with the DSM and derivatives to conduct a thorough analysis of the archaeological landscape resulted in the detection and identification of new archaeological features and the formulation of new insights in the layout of this important Medieval outport.

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