via Proceedings of KAPI, 30 December 2023: Consumer Off-the-Shelf Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (COTS RPAS) are proving to be invaluable tools for archaeological research in the Philippines. These systems enable real-time, multi-scale site analysis, encompassing micro, meso, and macro contexts. By integrating Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (RS-GIS), COTS RPAS offer detailed environmental observations and aid in understanding site processes. The methodology leverages high-resolution satellite and RPAS imagery, including LiDAR, to provide comprehensive insights from the broad environmental context down to detailed ground-level archaeological features.
This methods note will show how Consumer Off-the-Shelf Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (COTS RPAS) are valuable in carrying out archaeological explorations including surveys and excavations in the Philippines. The COTS RPAS provide real time access to multiscalar site context including the micro, meso, and macro scale contexts. The COTS RPAS also provide a more nuanced appreciation of site context and its surrounding environs.
