Airborne LiDAR-Derived Digital Elevation Model for Archaeology

The use of topographic airborne LiDAR data has become an essential part archaeological prospection, and the need for archaeology-specific processing workflow is well known. It therefore surprising that little attention been paid to key element processing: DEM. Accordingly, aim this paper describe DEM in detail, provide a tool its automatic precision assessment, determine appropriate grid resolution. We define as subtype DEM, which interpolated from ground points, buildings, four morphological types features. introduce confidence map (QGIS plug-in) assigns level each cell. This primarily used attach feature, useful detecting bias interpretation. Confidence mapping also effective identifying optimal resolution specific datasets. Beyond applications, provides clear criteria segmentation, one unsolved problems interpolation. All these are important steps towards general methodological maturity archaeology, our ultimate goal.