Main Switchboard
01267 676767
Email Address
vacancies@tsd.ac.uk
University Scholar awarded $400,000 grant by Qatar National Research Fund
29.09.2011
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has been awarded a Qatar National Research Priority Grants grant for $400,000 over three years to carry out aerial photography in Qatar using a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
The grant is a collaboration between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Qatar Museums Authority.
The project will be led by Dr.Andrew Petersen, Director of Research in Islamic Archaeology at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and other members of the team include: his colleague Daniel Jones from Trinity Saint David, Diane Derr Professor of Photography and Film at Virginia Commonwealth University and Faisal Na'imi, Head of Antiquities at the State of Qatar.
This will be one of the first times that this technology has been used to carry out archaeological survey and photography and will make use of the latest version of UAV technology i.e the Draganfly X8.
Dr Petersen explains:
“Qatar is currently undertaking an extraordinary level of archaeological research and excavation, helping to provide a greater understanding of its diverse and long heritage.
“Usually archaeologists have to rely on photography towers (cumbersome, potentially dangerous and limited altitude and flexibility), kites (reliant on wind, difficult to control, vulnerable limited payload). The Draganfly is a compact vehicle with 8 rotar blades controlled via GPS which is different to conventional radio controlled aerial vehicles. In addition to conventional photography the Draganfly will make use of infra-red and other forms of data capture.
“This is the first time that UAV's have been used in the Middle East within an archaeological context and demonstrates the innovative international research taking place at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the combination of technology and archaeology and the international collaboration between Wales and Qatar”, concludes Dr Petersen.
The project will take place over a three year period with fieldwork trials carried out during the winter and spring of each year. The first year of the project will involve field trials of the remote aerial vehicle on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David archaeological excavations in Northern Qatar. Particular sites to be surveyed include Ruwaydha and Rubayqa. Further information can be found on www.tsd.ac.uk –search for Wales Qatar Archaeological Project.
Note to Editor
- The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is working with Swansea Metropolitan University, Coleg Sir Gâr, Pembrokeshire College and Coleg Ceredigion to create a dual sector university. This means that the institutions will work as a group to provide progression routes and choices for students as well as programmes of study that respond to the needs of employers in the region.
- The Wales Qatar Archaeological Project is concerned with the research excavation and survey of number of coastal sites in northern Qatar. Currently the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is working on two sites Ruwaydha and Rubayqa under the direction of Dr.Andrew Petersen. Preliminary reports on both sites have been published in the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies. The excavation team comprises a number of former students of archaeology from the University.
- Qatar Foundation established Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) in 2006 as part of its ongoing commitment to establish Qatar as a knowledge-based economy. Qatar Foundation views research as essential to national and regional growth; as the means to diversify the nation’s economy, enhance educational offerings and develop areas that affect the community, such as health and environment.
- Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/trinitystdavid. Newsfeeds are available at www.trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk/en/rssfeeds.
Further Information
Elinor Howells 01570 424 859Andrew Petersen 07918108656
View all news...
