The new 4th edition of the Metric Survey Specifications for Cultural Heritage has just been published online by the Geospatial Survey team of ARPAS-UK Member, Historic England. The third edition was published in 2015, and this new edition contains the most notable advance being the ubiquitous use of multi-image, structure from motion photogrammetric software and drones to capture aerial photography.

This latest edition is now entitled “Geospatial Survey Specifications for Cultural Heritage” and incorporates several advances in geospatial surveying technology since the previous version was published in 2015. The most notable is the now widespread use of multi-image, structure from motion photogrammetric software and drones for capturing low-level aerial photography of heritage buildings, sites, and landscapes.

It should be very useful to those specifying survey work throughout the historic environment sector and academics researching building conservation.

This new specification, together with an accompanying project brief template, is free to download.