Aerial lidar mapping can reveal archaeological sites while overlooking Indigenous peoples and their knowledge

Aerial lidar raises ethical questions because it can collect data remotely without the knowledge or consent of Indigenous and descendant populations that are on the ground.

By: Christopher Hernandez, Loyola University Chicago, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 29, 2026

Words: 1,408

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Christopher Hernandez, Loyola University Chicago

Picture an aircraft streaking across the sky at hundreds of miles per hour, unleashing millions of laser pulses into a dense tropical forest. The objective: map thousands of square miles, including the ground beneath the canopy, in fine detail within a matter of days.

Once the stuff of science fiction, aerial lidar – light detection and ranging – is transforming how archaeologists map sites. Some have hailed this mapping technique …

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