Images of castle hope to cut heritage crime

Ground-breaking drone technology could also help conservation

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A PROJECT to capture a Chester city centre landmark in new levels of detail with the help of a Time Team expert could help combat heritage crime.

The ground-breaking Digital Dimensions Project at Chester Castle, led by University of Chester team Stewart Ainsworth (Time Team's landscape archaeologist and visiting professor of landscape archaeology), professor Meggen Gondek and Alex Foster (digital specialist), brings together representatives, resources and skills from the university, English Heritage, Historic England and Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team.

The project could shed new light on Chester Castle’s origins and lead to the innovative methods being used at other heritage sites to promote conservation and limit heritage crime.

Some of the digital models and imagery can also be displayed more widely for the benefit of students and schools while also promoting wider outreach opportunities for digital exploration of the castle via the internet and English Heritage.

It uses latest-generation drones with light detection and ranging data (LIDAR) and imaging sensors to generate a survey of the whole castle complex.

Additionally, there will be targeted surveys of areas of specific archaeological and/or architectural interest for more detailed scanning to generate 3D models and images in detail never seen before.