Training Resources for Remote Sensing
We encourage and recommend that communities consider building capacity within their membership to conduct GPR surveys on unmarked graves whenever possible. This page is dedicated to providing Indigenous communities, students, and other archaeological professionals links to open-source (free) resources for the collection, processing, and interpretation of geophysical/remote sensing data in archaeology. Although the resources here focus on GPR and unmarked grave identification, similar resources exist for all remote sensing techniques. Please see the Open-Source Software page for examples of free software and methods to process your data. Similarly, you can use the Map of Experts to get in touch with specialists who are helping Indigenous communities in the search for unmarked graves.
The information provided below is also detailed in the following document: Considerations for GPR Team Building (PDF).
We do recommend that communities consider building capacity within their membership to conduct GPR surveys on unmarked graves whenever possible. However, when looking to build capacity for your Nation to conduct GPR (or other remote sensing) surveys, there are a few things to consider;
- Access to GPR Equipment
- Purchasing a GPR unit on behalf of your Nation is a possibility (and often comes with general training), and generally is between $15,000 - $30,000 CAD depending on cart and accessories. There are also options to rent a GPR unit.
- Knowing what equipment is suitable and whether GPR works in your area is highly recommended prior to purchase. Talk with an expert prior to your purchase to ensure it is a good investment.
- GPR Training (General and Specialized)
- GPR for unmarked burial investigations is a specialization of more general geophysical training. General GPR training can be obtained through a variety of avenues, including through GPR suppliers and University courses, but the specialized training for those applying GPR to unmarked burial contexts is harder to come by in formal course offering.
- Software and Data Processing
- There are proprietary (paid) and open-source (free) software options available for processing GPR data.
- GPR and remote sensing surveys produce a lot of data, and will need significant secure storage space (upwards of 100 GB of data per acre of land searched, depending on the techniques used) and needs sufficient computer system requirements for processing.
- Support and Quality Control
- It is important to review and have on hand reliable sources on how to conduct a survey, what standards should be used, how to interpret the data, or how to write a report.
- There is ultimately no document or guide that can replace advice or guidance from a subject-matter expert. It is highly recommended to connect with a local specialist to help answer many of the questions that will inevitably arise in doing this work.
These videos linked below are a great starting point to be introduced to the concept of GPR, how it works, what is possible with GPR, and the technical considerations needed when conducting a GPR search. It is recommended to start building your knowledge here and move on to the various texts and published articles for more information.
Preparing for a Ground Search - Consideration, Options, and Examples. Webinar of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.
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.
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.
See below for recommended open-source reading, including textbooks and published journal articles on the application of GPR in archaeological and unmarked burial contexts.
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
Geophysics and remote sensing remain areas of study that are used somewhat infrequently in archaeological investigations within Canada, meaning there is a lack of published work in academic journals and other areas. As a result, there are limited opportunities for technicians to compare results to published literature. If you are practicing with these techniques, it is important to be familiar with the international literature given the lack of materials available in the Canadian context. Below are some common open-source (free) venues for remote sensing applications in archaeological contexts. Only a few are listed below, though there are many other good examples for education and inspiration. You are encouraged to look through each journal’s catalogue to find articles that may be helpful to review and learn from to apply in your own work.
Internet Archaeology (Open Access)
Remote Sensing (Open Access)
Archaeological Prospection (Paid Subscription, but some articles are Open Access)
The following resources and documents are meant to help guide GPR teams in the recommended standards of GPR survey design, specifically for unmarked burial investigations. Some also provide recommendations for alternative technologies in circumstances where GPR does not work in the local environment.
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.
As most open-source software that processes geophysical and/or remote sensing data requires some basic knowledge of computer science, we encourage you to learn the details of how this data is processed and employed as it will lead to better interpretations and overall understanding of the process. Below are a few options for free online courses that aim to increase familiarity with programming languages, and introduce various computer science concepts.
GPR for unmarked burial investigations is a specialization of more general geophysical training. General GPR training can be obtained through a variety of avenues, but the specialized training is necessary for those applying GPR to unmarked burial contexts. It is important to note that general training may not focus on how to use GPR for unmarked burial investigations, but it provides the necessary foundations after which you are able to specialize.
General Training
Most archaeologists have received their geophysical training from geophysics, physics, and geology departments at various universities and colleges. While data collection for GPR surveys is relatively easy to learn, there really is no substitute for a post-secondary education, taking classes, or completing part of a degree in these fields when it comes to GPR data processing and interpretation. For general GPR training, you can either obtain training from the manufacturers of equipment upon purchase of a GPR, or check your local post-secondary education institute for field school and in-class opportunities to gain expertise. For example:
- Most GPR distributors such as GSSI or Sensors & Software can provide general training on how to use GPR. We encourage anyone who buys technical equipment from suppliers to also purchase the commercial training programs provided by the company. Some companies, such as GSSI and Sensors & Software, are now offering training workshops and programs that do not require you to purchase the equipment. Please check out these opportunities by contacting the manufacturer directly.
- The University of Alberta’s Physics Department offers an annual geophysics field methods course.
- There are some GPR field schools in Europe that are currently running. International field schools are often expensive and require staying in a foreign country for long periods of time, often prohibiting attendance.
Specialized Training
Specialized in-field/hands-on training in the applications of GPR to unmarked burial investigations is more difficult to come by, as there are relatively few experts in the field. However, there are a few options;
- Articles and video resources linked above in other accordion sections above can help self-guided studies in the application of GPR to unmarked burial contexts.
- The University of British Columbia periodically runs a GPR training course in partnership with Musqueam First Nation for Indigenous communities.
- Reach out to the IPIA (ipiafoa@ualberta.ca) to partner and develop a GPR training course through the University of Alberta. We can help with specialized training and course development for GPR teams within Nations, or at the Treaty level.