Lidar (light and radar) uses laser precision to sense the surrounding environment. Laser beams are emitted and the amount of time taken for them to be reflected from objects and return to the sensor is measured. This provides the distances from various objects and allows a three-dimensional map of the environment to be built up quickly.
The technology was applied to the National Trust’s Wallington 13-hectare estate in Northumberland as it prepares to decide where to plant 75,000 British native trees as part of ambitions to plant 20 million trees by 2030 in order to help tackle the climate crisis.
The lidar-created map found evidence of archaeological sites dating from 2,000BC to 1,900AD, including traces of historic, healthy woodlands dating from the mid-eighteenth century which were cleared and not replanted.
Other findings include the discovery of early farming systems which were cast aside in the 18th century by the previous owner of the estate and...