Anthony Beck
I like all things to do with space, place and informatics. This originally stemmed from an undergraduate program focussed on GIS and archaeology. I used to spend a lot of time designing and implementing archaeological recording systems: this meant grappling with data flow, databases, data quality and surveying.
I was fortunate enough to be awarded a NERC grant to undertake PhD research at Durham University into the archaeological applications of high resolution satellite imagery in semi-arid environments. This involved substantial fieldwork in Syria, where I managed to implement a fully digital GIS based field recording and interpretation system.
After my PhD I joined the School of Computing at Leeds University. I've been conducting full-time research on the VISTA project looking at innovative techniques to resolve the schematic (design), semantic (language/naming) and syntactic (format) heterogeneities within the UK utility sector. This has taken me into the exciting world of Geo-ontologies and Knowledge Engineering. In late 2009 I was shortlisted (final 6) for the Royal Academy of Engineering ERA Entrepreneur of the year award for spin out activities associated with the VISTA utilities project.
I am currently working on a number of different projects. In addition to being the lead author for the grant application I am the project champion for the DART project (the Detection of Archaeological Residues using remote sensing Techniques: www.dartproject.info). This 3 year project will develop a deeper understanding of the physical, chemical and biological contrast factors and detection dynamics associated with geophysical and electromagnetic detection of heritage objects. This will allow the identification of appropriate sensors and conditions for feature detection. The successful detection of features in ‘difficult’ areas will provide a more complete understanding of the heritage resource which will impact on research, management and development control.
I provide cross-cutting consultancy and research support (GIS, remote sensing, data management, knowledge management and field capture) to a number of projects developed within a 5 year joint Omani/Earthwatch programme. These projects focus on natural and cultural environmental research and capacity building projects. The first two projects aim to secure the long-term viability of the endangered Arabian Leopard and Arabian Tahr: it's really nice to feel I'm giving something back! The programme is working towards open up access to the wealth of environmental data in Oman so that policy can be more effectively generated and the public have better engagement with their environmental heritage.
I also hold an EPSRC funded Knowledge Transfer Secondment (KTS) with 1Spatial. This span out of the work done with VISTA. The KTS is looking into both mining and providing 'fit for purpose' derivatives of geographical data held in triplestore.
In 2009 I won a place on the NESTA Crucible programme. This has significantly influenced my approach to academic research and how I disseminate and collaborate with peers, industry and the public. For example, DART is an Open Science Project and I am active within the Open Knowledge Foundation.
I'm an editor for the Open Journal of Archaeometry
I've acted as an archaeological remote sensing specialist for UNESCO and EURISY and helped organise the European Space Agency and UNESCO funded Space Applications for Heritage Conservation Conference and PhD Workshop (Strasbourg, November 2002).
I'm a member of the Aerial Archaeology Research Group and the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society.
I sat on the AARG education and outreach committee.
I sit on the scientific committee of the EARSeL REmote SEnsing of ARchaeology and Cultural Heritage (RE.SE.AR.CH) SIG.
I was on the technical committee of the National Underground Assets Group (NUAG) and sit on a panel examining how to revise the UK streetworks Records Codes of Practice.
Phone: +44 (0) 113 343 5433
Address: School of Computing
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK
I was fortunate enough to be awarded a NERC grant to undertake PhD research at Durham University into the archaeological applications of high resolution satellite imagery in semi-arid environments. This involved substantial fieldwork in Syria, where I managed to implement a fully digital GIS based field recording and interpretation system.
After my PhD I joined the School of Computing at Leeds University. I've been conducting full-time research on the VISTA project looking at innovative techniques to resolve the schematic (design), semantic (language/naming) and syntactic (format) heterogeneities within the UK utility sector. This has taken me into the exciting world of Geo-ontologies and Knowledge Engineering. In late 2009 I was shortlisted (final 6) for the Royal Academy of Engineering ERA Entrepreneur of the year award for spin out activities associated with the VISTA utilities project.
I am currently working on a number of different projects. In addition to being the lead author for the grant application I am the project champion for the DART project (the Detection of Archaeological Residues using remote sensing Techniques: www.dartproject.info). This 3 year project will develop a deeper understanding of the physical, chemical and biological contrast factors and detection dynamics associated with geophysical and electromagnetic detection of heritage objects. This will allow the identification of appropriate sensors and conditions for feature detection. The successful detection of features in ‘difficult’ areas will provide a more complete understanding of the heritage resource which will impact on research, management and development control.
I provide cross-cutting consultancy and research support (GIS, remote sensing, data management, knowledge management and field capture) to a number of projects developed within a 5 year joint Omani/Earthwatch programme. These projects focus on natural and cultural environmental research and capacity building projects. The first two projects aim to secure the long-term viability of the endangered Arabian Leopard and Arabian Tahr: it's really nice to feel I'm giving something back! The programme is working towards open up access to the wealth of environmental data in Oman so that policy can be more effectively generated and the public have better engagement with their environmental heritage.
I also hold an EPSRC funded Knowledge Transfer Secondment (KTS) with 1Spatial. This span out of the work done with VISTA. The KTS is looking into both mining and providing 'fit for purpose' derivatives of geographical data held in triplestore.
In 2009 I won a place on the NESTA Crucible programme. This has significantly influenced my approach to academic research and how I disseminate and collaborate with peers, industry and the public. For example, DART is an Open Science Project and I am active within the Open Knowledge Foundation.
I'm an editor for the Open Journal of Archaeometry
I've acted as an archaeological remote sensing specialist for UNESCO and EURISY and helped organise the European Space Agency and UNESCO funded Space Applications for Heritage Conservation Conference and PhD Workshop (Strasbourg, November 2002).
I'm a member of the Aerial Archaeology Research Group and the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society.
I sat on the AARG education and outreach committee.
I sit on the scientific committee of the EARSeL REmote SEnsing of ARchaeology and Cultural Heritage (RE.SE.AR.CH) SIG.
I was on the technical committee of the National Underground Assets Group (NUAG) and sit on a panel examining how to revise the UK streetworks Records Codes of Practice.
Phone: +44 (0) 113 343 5433
Address: School of Computing
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK
less
Related Authors
InterestsView All (27)
Uploads
Papers by Anthony Beck
on using the properties of the vegetation cover as a proxy for sub-surface features in the soil.
Under the right conditions, the formation of vegetation marks allows archaeologists to identify
and interpret archaeological features. Using airborne Laser Scanning, based on the principles of
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to detect these marks is challenging, particularly given
the difficulties of resolving subtle changes in a low and homogeneous crop with these sensors.
In this paper, an experimental approach is adopted to explore how these marks could be detected
as variations in canopy biomass using both range and full waveform LiDAR data. Although
some detection was achieved using metrics of the full waveform data, it is the novel
multi-temporal method of using discrete return data to detect and characterise archaeological
vegetation marks that is offered for further consideration. This method was demonstrated to be
applicable over a range of capture conditions, including soils deemed as difficult (i.e., clays and
other heavy soils), and should increase the certainty of detection when employed in the
increasingly multi-sensor approaches to heritage prospection and management.
on using the properties of the vegetation cover as a proxy for sub-surface features in the soil.
Under the right conditions, the formation of vegetation marks allows archaeologists to identify
and interpret archaeological features. Using airborne Laser Scanning, based on the principles of
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to detect these marks is challenging, particularly given
the difficulties of resolving subtle changes in a low and homogeneous crop with these sensors.
In this paper, an experimental approach is adopted to explore how these marks could be detected
as variations in canopy biomass using both range and full waveform LiDAR data. Although
some detection was achieved using metrics of the full waveform data, it is the novel
multi-temporal method of using discrete return data to detect and characterise archaeological
vegetation marks that is offered for further consideration. This method was demonstrated to be
applicable over a range of capture conditions, including soils deemed as difficult (i.e., clays and
other heavy soils), and should increase the certainty of detection when employed in the
increasingly multi-sensor approaches to heritage prospection and management.