Rajani, MB
(2026)
Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS in archaeology and heritage: A review of research questions and evolving approaches.
Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing.
ISSN 0974-3006
Full text not available from this repository.
| Abstract: |
Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are now integral to archaeological and heritage research, enabling detection, mapping, and analysis of cultural landscapes across spatial and temporal scales. Existing reviews have typically been organised around sensor types and analytical techniques, emphasising technological advancement rather than the archaeological and heritage questions these technologies help address. This review organises geospatial applications according to the archaeological and heritage questions they are used to investigate. It first organises the field around major categories of archaeological and heritage inquiry: feature detection, site extent, settlement systems, historical geographies, heritage boundaries and site management, conflict landscapes, built heritage documentation, and archaeoastronomy. Drawing from these, it traces three broad historical phases—early feature detection via aerial observation and cartography; sensor-driven expansion with multispectral and microwave data; and landscape-centred approaches enabled by multi-temporal datasets and computational platforms. It then examines conceptual issues arising from this trajectory, particularly the relationship between technological development and research priorities, and the changing nature of evidence, observability, and interpretation. Finally, it considers the growing use of AI for data analysis as well as role of web-GIS platforms in the dissemination and integration of archaeological and heritage data. The review argues that technological progress and disciplinary progress do not necessarily advance in parallel. The contribution of geospatial technologies depends on how effectively their capabilities address questions of archaeological significance and the nature of the available evidence. Organising geospatial applications around archaeological inquiry rather than technological categories therefore provides a complementary framework for understanding the evolving role of RS and GIS. |
| Item Type: |
Journal Paper
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| Subjects: |
School of Humanities > Archaeometallurgy
School of Humanities > Heritage Studies |
| Divisions: |
Schools > Humanities |
| Date Deposited: |
29 Sep 2026 06:06 |
| Last Modified: |
29 Sep 2026 06:06 |
| Official URL: |
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12524-0... |
| Related URLs: |
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| Funders: |
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| Projects: |
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| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-026-02583-y |
| URI: |
http://eprints.nias.res.in/id/eprint/3462 |
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