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RSOPS has recently adopted 3H Consulting’s Site Recorder 4 as its primary site management and recording tool.  The use of this program in our survey methodology greatly enhances the quality and effectiveness of the archaeological work we perform on wreck sites.

To date we have used a variety of different software packages and field procedures for performing archaeological studies of wrecks.  Site Recorder’s advanced features have allowed us to standardize and in some cases eliminate different procedures such as reduction of datasets, spatial correlation, profiling wreck site layers or strata and compiling of artifact property datasheets.  It also provides a robust repository for the remote sensing data we generate from our magnetometer, side scan sonar and other electronic survey equipment.

As part of our policy of partnering with host governments, RSOPS is providing a complete software and hardware package to the Ecuadorian Department of Patrimonio Cultural as part of the South Sea Expeditions Project.  This effort will modernize this departments ability to manage their submerged cultural resources while allowing this information to be integrated into Ecuador’s national GIS information database.

We look forward to working with the staff of Patrimonio Cultural as we continue to develop and refine high quality archaeological procedures and practices.

Technical Capability

Unlike most other GIS programs, Site Recorder is designed for collecting information not simply displaying it. The program has been designed for collecting data during fieldwork and creating site plans.  Site Recorder can manage thousands of finds, photographs, survey data, dive logs, samples and documents – all the information relating to an underwater or intertidal site.  Items can be associated with one another allowing quick and easy retrieval for analysis and interpretation.

Using Site Recorder you can now visualise survey and excavation work as it happens – capturing and ‘digitising’ the site as work progresses.  During excavation Site Recorder 4 becomes a finds handling and mapping program as it can take in information about artefacts (finds), features and samples.  Detailed information about each artefact can be recorded in the program as well as being shown in position on the site plan.  Much of the information about each find stored in the program is selected from wordlists allowing more simple and standardised recording.

Site Recorder can be used during assessment work on a site by collecting and processing basic survey and recording information.  Control and detail survey points can be added to the existing site plan, each positioned using simple offset, ties and radial measurements.  Site Recorder includes similar drawing tools found in Computer Aided Design (CAD) computer programs, so a detailed sketch can be quickly drawn up showing the important features of the site.

More accurate survey techniques can be used where more precise recording is required.  Site Recorder 4 supports full 3D survey data collection and processing using distance, depth and position measurements.  The program uses a survey-quality least-squares adjustment to compute the optimum position of the survey points and hence the finds positioned relative to them.  3D recording can be complicated so a special ‘Analyser’ Tool is included in Site Recorder 4 to help solve survey-related problems.

One of the more common tasks is to migrate or reprocess existing information about a site into Site Recorder 4, so the program includes tools and features that assist with this task.  You can easily import finds lists, samples lists, dive logs, drawings, survey points and measurements as well as other types of information.  Existing digital site plans can be imported using standard file formats while paper plans can be digitised then imported.  Once inside Site Recorder 4 the drawing objects from the original site plan can be converted to artefacts, features, trenches and other objects using a tool included with the program.

Site Recorder 4 can be used during the planning phase of a project by helping to collect together and display all the information about a site.  Magnetometer, sidescan sonar and multibeam sonar targets can be imported and plotted on a georeferenced site plan along with information about each target.  Vector charts of the search area can be imported and displayed placing target points in context allowing easier interpretation.

Site Recorder 4 can take in live position data from Global Positioning Systems ( GPS ) or underwater Acoustic Positioning Systems (APS) and use it to show a boat, ROV or diver moving around the site plan.  Position fixes can be recorded at any time and be used as to position finds and survey points.  Search areas can be added that can be used to guide the boat or ROV along search lanes (runlines) ensuring full and complete coverage during a search.

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