ACI & Technology

ACI & Technology

Archaeological Consultants Inc. is a pioneer of predictive modeling, implementing the first recognized application of soil types to systematically locate and assess cultural resources in the State of Florida.

For over 30 years, ACI has led the state in innovating site location strategies often focused on soils and other geological features. As pioneers in the use of georeferenced data and modeling, we were one of the first to transition from the use of topographic paper maps and aerials to GIS/GPS applications in daily field operations. The cartographic technological innovations of the last 15 years have allowed ACI to produce high quality data reports for its clients that meet the highest standards of the Secretary of the Interior and State.

 

Over the last five years ACI has rapidly expanded our use of Archaeometry, the application of scientific methods and technology to archaeological study, and particularly, Archaeogeophysics, the application of geophysical methods in archaeology. Geophysical science aims to explore the chemical and structural differences in soil that can be measured and averaged with the use of specialized equipment. These measurements can focus on magnetism, electrical resistance, and differences in water saturation amongst other properties of earth, all with the goal of understanding what may be present below that ground without disturbing it. Although the focus of these methods has been geologic exploration and construction, over the last 40 years they have also been applied to archaeological sites with great success.

 

As Florida’s premier cultural resource management firm, ACI offers its clients comprehensive archaeological services that integrate traditional investigation methods with innovative technology such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Our geophysical staff have been trained and certified through a variety of programs including the National Park Service National Center for Preservation and Technology Training (NCPTT), GSSI, an industry leader in GPR technology in the use of high and low frequency systems, as well as data processing, and ESRI, an industry leader in GIS software, mapping, and geospatial analysis. In addition, our staff has individually trained with experts in these fields. ACI’s staff uses these various methods to help evaluate the archaeological potential of areas prior to survey to help develop an efficient and cost-effective testing strategy. ACI can also use this technology to map archaeological or historical features to allow preservation and interpretation while avoiding destruction through excavation or to identify the most appropriate areas to excavate to ensure results that will best assist with evaluation and interpretation.

 

ACI is in the forefront of utilizing LiDAR to analyze projects areas for a variety of features, including cemeteries, mounds, wetlands, and land contours that have long been blunted by agriculture. We are also ready to conduct high-definition GPR surveys to evaluate and address unforeseeable on-site issues such as the discovery of a cemetery or isolated human remains.

 

In the field, ACI deploys a technologically prepared staff that can return data immediately to accommodate potential client needs. Field staff is equipped with high accuracy receivers that utilize the most recent mobile hardware and connectivity. As a member organization to ESRI ArcGIS Online and Enterprise, ACI can deploy quality historic imaging, KML, LiDAR, and shapefile information to provide clients comprehensive cultural resource assessments and historic inventory analysis. To date, ACI staff has successfully used non-destructive techniques to locate and/or document a variety of archaeological sites including forgotten or erased historic cemeteries, historic pauper cemeteries, the “lost” segregated parts of historic cemeteries, historic sawmill sites, and sites throughout the Everglades.


Geographic Information System (GIS) is designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data. GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries, analyze spatial information, edit data in maps, and present the results of all these operations.

ACI utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) services to support archaeological and architectural surveys by integrating analyses and geographic data. Aerial photographs, soil, and topographic maps, and LiDAR and remote sensing imagery provide the geographically distributed information needed to assess the probability of cultural resources in a project area.

 

This assists Archaeological Consultants, Inc. in developing predictive models, that take into account variables such as proximity to water, slope, elevation, and drainage to assess the likelihood of encountering sites within a project area. As a result, ACI can bring together the GIS data and models developed by various county and local entities to develop the plan that best suits our clients’ needs and fulfills government, or due diligence, requirements.

 

ACI employs Trimble, Juno, and Arc Collector platforms in data collection allowing for submeter accuracy in data collection and versatility in deployment depending on project size, project needs, and field conditions. These platforms allow for concurrent data collection enabling the field crews and project managers to communicate about findings and strategize methodologies in real-time.

Our crew leads and GIS specialists are versed in Arc GIS and have transitioned to Arc Pro to develop visual representations of our results and findings.