Laser-scan system has virtual view of Stonehenge details

The survey will map the standing and fallen stones of Stonehenge, as well as the top of the horizontal lintels.

Despite the vast amount of archaeological activity and academic study into Stonehenge and its landscape over the centuries, relatively little is known about the lichen-covered surfaces.

A survey of these surfaces was last undertaken in 1993 using photogrammetry — a technique that combines overlapping images — to achieve a somewhat limited resolution of 2cm.

’We’re trying to capture the subtleties in the surfaces that are there now, but of course in 10, 20 years’ time they might decay. Hopefully, we can prise out any man-made carvings that are not known about already,’ said Paul Bryan, head of Geospatial Imaging at English Heritage, who is leading the project.

In the latest surveying project, the team is using a combination of laser scanning with a Z+F Imager 5010 and photogrammetry at 24 megapixels — which together will be able to resolve down to 0.5mm.