LIDAR finder

LIDAR is a technology which uses laser light to create a 3D representation of the earth's surface. It can be used to find archaeological features which are not immediately visible from the ground or through traditional satellite images.

DSM LIDAR

DSM (Digital Surface Modelling) includes all terrain and above-terrain features (e.g. buildings, trees etc).

DTM LIDAR

DSM (Digital Terrain Modelling) includes only terrain features and filters out above-terrain items. It can be useful in situations such as when researching a heavily wooded area.

LIDARfinder lets you uncover hidden features under the ground by showing you a split-screen view of a map and its corresponding LIDAR view.

LIDARfinder uses publicly-available LIDAR data. Currently, only LIDAR data for England and Wales is available and not all areas are covered. New data will be added as and when it becomes available.

On startup, LIDARfinder will show you a random interesting location. If you have granted the site location permissions, it will move to your current position. If you are using a mobile device, the map will keep following your current location until you centre the map somewhere else.

On desktop

Use the mouse to drag and centre the map as usual. Click near the boundary where the two views meet and drag to change the proportion of the map and LIDAR view.

On a mobile device

Tap on the map to re-centre or drag it. Tap and drag near the boundary where the two views meet to change the proportion of the map and LIDAR view.

Click the search icon to find a location. Enter a place name or postcode and select the appropriate match from the drop-down list. The map will move to that location.

Click on the target icon to move the map to your current location. If you are using a mobile device, the map will move with you until you centre the map somewhere else.

Tap the cog icon to access the settings menu.

Map settings

Map layer - pick the default map view: satellite, streetmap, terrain or hybrid (satellite with streets) England LIDAR - pick the LIDAR dataset for England. Current data is supplied by the Environment Agency, usually at 1m per pixel but in some areas 50cm per pixel or even 25cm per pixel is available. Choose between DTM and DSM data (see What is LIDAR?) Wales LIDAR - pick the LIDAR dataset for Wales. Current data is supplied by Natural Resources Wales, usually at 1m per pixel but in some areas 50cm per pixel or even 25cm per pixel is available. Choose between DTM and DSM data (see What is LIDAR?) LIDAR streets - choose whether to overlay street information on the LIDAR view.

LIDAR filters

LIDAR data is provided in 'false colour'. Use the options in this tab to adjust the colour, brightness, contrast and saturation of the LIDAR data.

Mobile settings [only available on mobile devices]

Follow my location - turn 'follow me' mode on and off Optimise for Retina devices - this improves image quality for some Apple devices with Retina screens.

Everyone hates ads, but LIDARfinder costs money to develop and run. The ad bar at the bottom of the screen helps keep the site going. Please consider purchasing something to support us :-)

+		What is LIDAR?
		LIDAR is a technology which uses laser light to create a 3D representation of the earth's surface. It can be used to find archaeological features which are not immediately visible from the ground or through traditional satellite images. DSM LIDAR DSM (Digital Surface Modelling) includes all terrain and above-terrain features (e.g. buildings, trees etc). DTM LIDAR DSM (Digital Terrain Modelling) includes only terrain features and filters out above-terrain items. It can be useful in situations such as when researching a heavily wooded area.
+		Using LIDARFinder
		LIDARfinder lets you uncover hidden features under the ground by showing you a split-screen view of a map and its corresponding LIDAR view. LIDARfinder uses publicly-available LIDAR data. Currently, only LIDAR data for England and Wales is available and not all areas are covered. New data will be added as and when it becomes available. On startup, LIDARfinder will show you a random interesting location. If you have granted the site location permissions, it will move to your current position. If you are using a mobile device, the map will keep following your current location until you centre the map somewhere else. On desktop Use the mouse to drag and centre the map as usual. Click near the boundary where the two views meet and drag to change the proportion of the map and LIDAR view. On a mobile device Tap on the map to re-centre or drag it. Tap and drag near the boundary where the two views meet to change the proportion of the map and LIDAR view.
+		Searching for a location
		Click the search icon to find a location. Enter a place name or postcode and select the appropriate match from the drop-down list. The map will move to that location.
+		Find me
		Click on the target icon to move the map to your current location. If you are using a mobile device, the map will move with you until you centre the map somewhere else.
+		Settings
		Tap the cog icon to access the settings menu. Map settings Map layer - pick the default map view: satellite, streetmap, terrain or hybrid (satellite with streets) England LIDAR - pick the LIDAR dataset for England. Current data is supplied by the Environment Agency, usually at 1m per pixel but in some areas 50cm per pixel or even 25cm per pixel is available. Choose between DTM and DSM data (see What is LIDAR?) Wales LIDAR - pick the LIDAR dataset for Wales. Current data is supplied by Natural Resources Wales, usually at 1m per pixel but in some areas 50cm per pixel or even 25cm per pixel is available. Choose between DTM and DSM data (see What is LIDAR?) LIDAR streets - choose whether to overlay street information on the LIDAR view. LIDAR filters LIDAR data is provided in 'false colour'. Use the options in this tab to adjust the colour, brightness, contrast and saturation of the LIDAR data. Mobile settings [only available on mobile devices] Follow my location - turn 'follow me' mode on and off Optimise for Retina devices - this improves image quality for some Apple devices with Retina screens.
+		Why the ads? I hate ads!
		Everyone hates ads, but LIDARfinder costs money to develop and run. The ad bar at the bottom of the screen helps keep the site going. Please consider purchasing something to support us :-)