The Mendip Hills AONB NMP project was the first project where lidar data was examined simultaneously with standard aerial photographs. In previous projects where lidar had been used it had been examined after the standard NMP project had been completed as a comparison to assess what the different data sets revealed. The Mendip project was different in so far as the aim was to use the lidar data as just another source rather than making comparisons. The Mendip landscape is largely pasture and so it was hoped that lidar would be able to record slight earthwork features that would not otherwise be visible.
The lidar data has already traced the route of the Roman road east of Charterhouse. This was previously recorded as an earthwork to Ubley Warren farmhouse and was conjectured to go as far as the next hedge west. Beyond that there wasn't even a projected route, although it was presumed to be heading for the Roman town. The lidar data shows not only where the route is, but that there is still at least a degree of the earthwork surviving.
The special characteristics of lidar being able to penetrate woodland were also demonstrated. There is a large area of lead mining near Priddy where there are numerous remains of lead rakes cutting across the landscape. These have been clearly traced on standard aerial photographs, but stop short at a plantation where the trees prevent any possibility of seeing features on the ground. The last return of the lidar beam tends to penetrate the canopy and hit the ground surface revealing features that could not otherwise be seen.
The lidar data was commissioned by the AONB and was flown by the Unit for Landscape Modelling (ULM) Cambridge University.
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