Digital survey from drone in archaeology: potentiality, limits, territorial archaeological context and variables

Abstract The ease of piloting drones, the increasingly high performance of sensors, range of action and autonomy of the platform in flight, combined with an apparent simplicity of realization of 3D models through modern photogrammetry (based on algorithms of Structure from Motion and techniques of Computer Vision), have created a real boom for use in archeology. The trust placed in these new technologies has not always allowed a careful analysis of the limits of these tools and methodologies. In fact, these technologies are often used badly or not to their full potential, probably due to the absence of a general manual and because they are technologies in constant development. The aim of this paper is the discuss of potentials and limits of the use of drones in the documentation of archaeological sites, which are high dependent by the territorial archaeological context and several variables that will be argued.