Compiled Remote Sensing Resources
This section contains the links to remote sensing resources arranged by topic. Many of these resources are discussed in other sections, but have been compiled here for easy access.
- Canadian Archaeological Association's Resources for Indigenous Communities Considering Investigating Unmarked Graves Video Playlist. A series of videos covering a range of topics relating to unmarked graves investigations from start to finish that accompanies their written guide, intended for non-specialists.
- Best Practices in Remote Sensing for Grave Detection. Webinar in partnership with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, the Canadian Archaeological Association and the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology.
- Finding the Relatives: Wise Practices for Research Design in Locating Unmarked Graves in Western Canada. Webinar hosted by Access Accountability.
- Preparing for a Ground Search - Consideration, Options, and Examples. Webinar of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.
- Beyond Ground Penetrating Radar: How other techniques can complement GPR and help in the search for residential school unmarked burials. Webinar of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.
- Frequently Asked Questions: Remote Sensing and Grave Detection A Q and A created to provide some answers to frequently asked questions about remote sensing surveys.
- What is Ground Penetrating Radar? A Q and A created as an aid for project leads/decision-makers to communicate with their communities about what GPR is and what it can do, as well as answering some frequently asked questions.
- Illustrated: Locating burials using GPR (Eric Simons, UBC) Illustrations demonstrating how ground-penetrating radar is used. More illustrations are added regularly. This collection is freely available for use by anyone involved in this work.
Survey Preparation
- Preparing for a Ground Search – Considerations, Options, and Examples. (National Advisory Committee on Residential School Missing Children and Unmarked Burials)
- How to Prepare for A GPR Investigation (IPIA)
- Residential Schools Gathering and Ceremony Guide (First Nations Heath Authority).
- Lessons Learned: Survivor Perspectives (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)
Consultants and Team Building
- Considerations for GPR Team Building (IPIA)
- Considerations for Private Sector GPR Companies (IPIA)
- Map of Remote Sensing Experts & Contact Information
Remote Sensing Technologies
- Searching For Missing Children: A Guide to Ground Search Techniques (Canadian Archaeological Association, 2023) and the documents accompanying videos
- UBC and Musqueam Nation Partnership: GPR Guidance for Geophysical Surveys of Unmarked Graves
- Remote Sensing Technologies Matrix (IPIA)
- EAC Guidelines for the use of Geophysics in Archaeology: Questions to Ask and Points to Consider. (EAC)
Aerial Photos and Land Use History
- Indian Residential Schools Mapping Application (Indigenous Services Canada)
- NRCAN Canada Land Survey Mapping Tools
- Guide to Ordering Aerial Photos (IPIA)
Guides and Videos
Technical Guidelines for Remote Sensing. Youtube video playlist presented by the Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Burials. Accompanies their technical guidelines document.
Introductory S&S GPR Videos Guide. UBC's GPR Partnership with Musqueam has identified a series of Sensors & Softwares online videos that focus on relevant introductory and foundational GPR issues particular to locating unmarked graves.
- The Basics of Interpreting GPR Data - Part 1. Webinar by Sensors & Software Inc.
- Using GPR for Locating Unmarked Graves. Webinar by Sensors & Software Inc.
- GPR Question & Answer Session. Webinar by Sensors & Software Inc.
- GPR Utilities Tips and Tricks. Webinar by Sensors & Software Inc.
LearnGPR Video Playlists. A series of free training videos on Ground Penetrating Radar to help utility locators, civil engineers, and archaeologists upgrade their skills. Covers quickstart guides for certain GPR units, as well as GPR data processing tips and tricks.
Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves: Remote Sensing Pathways
Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves. 2023. Searching for Missing Children: A Guide to Unmarked Grave Investigations.
Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves. 2023. Searching for Missing Children: A Guide to Remote Sensing Techniques.
EAC Guidelines for the use of Geophysics in Archaeology: Questions to Ask and Points to Consider.
GPR Course Content. UBC's GPR Partnership with Musqueam. Has really wonderful instructional videos, guides, lectures, and data recording forms that support their GPR Course for Indigenous Communities, specifically around GPR survey design. They upload these resources for all to use, beyond those who are registered in the course.
Textbook or Article Readings:
Schmidt, Armin. (2004). "Remote Sensing and Geophysical Prospection", Internet Archaeology, 15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.15.9
GeoSci Developers. (2017). Geophysics for Practicing Geoscientists. Geophysics for Practicing Geoscientists — GPR 0.0.1 documentation
Tiberius, Christian, Hans van der Marel, René Reudink, and Freek van Leijen. (2022). Surveying and Mapping. TU Delft Open Textbook; Delft University of Technology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5074/T.2021.007
(2015). Ground penetrating radar applied: A model for quantifying interpretation of human burials in historical contexts. M.A. Thesis. University of British Columbia. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0166116
, & (2023). A methodology for the self-training and self-assessing of new GPR practitioners: Measuring diagnostic proficiency illustrated by a case study of a historic African-American cemetery for unmarked graves. Archaeological Prospection, 30, 10–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1893
Martindale, Andrew, William TD Wadsworth, Eric Simons, Brian Whiting, and Colin Grier. "The challenges of signal interpretation of burials in ground‐penetrating radar." Archaeological Prospection (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1920
Wadsworth, William TD, Kisha Supernant, Ave Dersch, and the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation. “Integrating Remote Sensing and Indigenous Archaeology to Locate Unmarked Graves: A Case Study from Northern Alberta, Canada”. Advances in Archaeological Practice. 2021;9(3):202-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/aap.2021.9