AI Software brings Historical Sites to Light

ArchAI, founded by archaeologist-turned-computer scientist Iris Kramer, has received a cash injection from Government to develop her revolutionary software that leverages artificial intelligence to automatically detect archaeological sites for construction planners. The software was developed by Iris during her PhD in deep learning at the University of Southampton and her previous degree in archaeology.

Locating possible archaeological sites at the earliest planning stages could lower the cost of construction and ensure that vital historical sites are preserved.

Iris said, “By using our technology over conventional techniques, developers could save tens of thousands in costs, as well as months of time that would be spent surveying land pre-development. Going forward there are wide ranging environmental challenges globally that our world-first technology can address.”

ArchAI is one of five space projects receiving UK Space Agency funding through the national Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology (SPRINT).

Dr Fraser Sturt, a professor of archaeology at the University of Southampton, said: "Aerial photography transformed archaeology in the early 20th century, revealing sites in a way that few people could have conceived of in the past. Advances in Earth Observation and Machine learning offer another leap forward, helping us to identify and monitor sites across space and time.

"This information is critical not only for our understanding of the past, but how we manage the built environment and its development in the future."