The Application of Aerial LiDAR in Archaeological Research in Vietnam

VÕ Thị Phương Thúy1* and Scott Macrae2

LiDAR technology has been widely and successfully applied in archaeological research worldwide, particularly in the study of past urban landscapes. In Vietnam, this technology has only been applied in recent years through several projects at sites such as Co Loa, Hoa Lu, and My Son. In Hoa Lu, we conducted LiDAR aerial surveys over the relic landscape, achieving initial results in studying water systems, city walls, and natural landscapes. Despite these promising results, the implementation of LiDAR surveys in Vietnam presents both logistical and regulatory challenges. Transporting aerial equipment into the country requires navigating complex permit procedures, including flight approvals from the Ministry of National Defense, which can be time-consuming. In addition, the use of LiDAR data in archaeological research requires formal authorisation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. At the same time, the growing availability of domestic UAV-based LiDAR service providers offers a significant advantage, with high-quality data collection at competitive costs. This expanding local capacity enables more consistent and accessible application of LiDAR across archaeological projects. These recent surveys provide an opportunity to evaluate both the practical constraints and archaeological potential of LiDAR in Vietnam, particularly for advancing the study of ancient urban landscapes