evaluating consumer grade uavs and their potential applications and implications in ontario consulting archaeology
abstract
archaeological investigation is an inherently destructive process that threatens permanent
data loss if archaeological sites are inadequately recorded. while archaeologists strive to develop
innovative methods to ensure adequate data capture, they are often inhibited by funding and
training in new methodologies. limited funding is exacerbated in a consulting archaeology
framework in ontario where budgets are competitively determined and offer little flexibility or
incentive to exceed the minimum standards enforced by the ministry of tourism, culture and
sport (mtcs). this thesis critically examines consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles
(uavs) as a potential site recording and prospecting tool. through four case studies, the uavs
efficacy is evaluated and uav-derived data products are outlined to determine whether the aerial
platform is a suitable technological innovation that increases data capture while remaining
affordable for ontario consultant archaeologists.