Lidar in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes: reassessing land use in the Mauguio

Nicolas Poirier (1, 2) , Rachel Opitz (2, 3) , Laure Nuninger (2, 3, 4) , Krištof Oštir (2, 5)

1 TRACES - Travaux et recherches archéologiques sur les cultures, les espaces et les sociétés
2 LEA MODELTER - European laboratory for Modelling of Landscapes and Territories over the Long Term
3 MSHE - Maison des Sciences de l'Homme et de l'Environnement Claude Nicolas Ledoux (UAR 3124)
4 LCE - Laboratoire Chrono-environnement (UMR 6249)
5 IAPS - Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies

The value of lidar data for the study of forested areas has been repeatedly demonstrated, recording large numbers of previously unknown sites and features where most survey methods are ineffective. However, the question of the value of lidar in cultivated areas already investigated through historical mapping and archaeological studies such as fieldwalking survey, aerial photographic survey and excavation remains open. This paper summarizes the results of recent research in the open and heavily cultivated Mauguio region of southern France and reflects on the challenges of integrating information from lidar survey into an existing body of knowledge on the development of an agricultural landscape.

Mots clés: agricultural landscapes; visualization; Mediterranean; lidar

Domaines: Archéologie et Préhistoire; Traitement du signal et de l'image [eess.SP]; Traitement du signal et de l'image [eess.SP]

Nicolas Poirier, Rachel Opitz, Laure Nuninger, Krištof Oštir. Lidar in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes: reassessing land use in the Mauguio. Rachel S. Opitz; David C. Cowley. Interpreting archaeological topography: airborne laser scanning, 3D data and ground observation, Oxbow Books, pp.184-196, 2013, 978-1-84217-516-3. ⟨hal-00803238⟩