Bulgaria Uses Laser Scanners To Find Archaeological Sites

This is evidence that Bulgaria cares very much for its natural heritage, which is unique in many areas. A public funded project with the protection and preservation of archaeological sites in the Black Sea Coast area is in practice right now. The most up to date technology using laser scanning is being used which has been proven highly effective in other European countries. Good to see this happening and good news in Bulgaria which seems to run down with bad news recently.

The Center for Underwater Archeology is the public organization in Bulgaria responsible for the protection and preservation of the Bulgarian underwater cultural heritage. The project is established to identify archaeological sites on the Bulgarian coastline to enhance maritime cultural resource preservation and protection and enable further scientific research.

The bathymetric LiDAR scanning survey will be carried out by Blom Bulgaria and Blom Aerofilms, Blom’s UK subsidiary. The survey covers app. 100 sq.km of the Bulgarian coastline in the Black Sea. The project will be carried out using Hawkeye technology. The Hawkeye system is a LiDAR instrument for bathymetric surveys, representing one of the leading bathymetric technologies available on the market. Bathymetric surveys are laser scanning of the coastline, both seabed and land.

“The project for the Center for Underwater Archeology represents an important step for the introduction of the Hawkeye technology to the Bulgarian market as it is Blom’s first contract in Bulgaria using this kind of application”, says Håkon Jacobsen, COO Blom Group. Hawkeye has proven to be successfully used in other European countries, by other Blom subsidiaries, and Blom believes that this project will open for a new market for bathymetric laser scanning in the Black Sea region.

The project is expected to be finalized during forth quarter 2009.

Source: www.gisuser.com