the remarkable acceptance of archaeologists for the new 
technology. 
The new techniques depended upon the size of the monument, 
the scale of surveying and the required accuracy. Most of the 
new techniques are based on photogrammetry, even though 
surveyors have yet the responsibility for target control points 
establishment. As already mentioned above photogrammetric 
surveys are depended on the accuracy of control points, which 
observed with classic surveying methods using total stations or 
GPS. The density of control points depends upon the scale. The 
accuracy of the control points depends on the method of their 
determination and the accuracy of measuring instruments. 
Another applied classification deals with the type of the used 
camera, which could be metric, semi-metric or non-metric and 
also digital camera. The number of required control points 
depends also on the type of the camera and the method of 
solution for extracting the final results. 
Apart from all of the above we use many types of platforms to 
take the proper shots, such as kites, balloons, grains, model 
helicopters etc. in order to carry the camera at the appropriate 
distance from the object we want to survey (Y. Miyatsuka, 
1996). After that we have the choice to manipulate the images 
in many different ways with several programs in order to obtain 
the final results. The conclusion is that more easily with fewer 
hours and less people we can have valuable results, which have 
much accurate information. Thus for a model helicopter has 
been developed in order to be used for taking photos from a 
short range of 50 to 200 m. It can carry a semi metric camera 
Rolleiflex 6x6 and alternatively a 35mm camera. 
2. FOTOGRAMMETRY IN SITES 
In addition we have the development of the stereo plotters 
which lead photogrammetry into the “digital darkroom” (Patias 
1991). Today both hardware and software in this section are 
developed and is subject of changing very often towards better 
solutions. Using CAD programs we can easily produce 3D 
plans of the buildings and findings in the excavation as 
mentioned for city plans (Gruen 1998). This is a powerful tool 
for architects and archaeologists when they wand to visualize 
the site (Ito et al 1998). Such 3D drawings can have several 
applications. But accordingly to the huge development of 
technology in all areas there has observed a difficulty in 
following and learning all the changes. Hardware and software 
is changing and developing every day. This will lead to new 
young people who have higher efficiency in the modern 
technology and a greater level of understanding it. 
Another reason that makes fotogrammetry an ideal tool for 
archaeological surveys is the ability of producing fast and 
accurate detailed archives of photos which we could shoot in 
each single step of the excavation. It has been proven that the 
best way to take the photos is from the air. But we want to 
reduce the cost of taking the appropriate photos, to reduce the 
altitude from which we take the photos in order to gain higher 
accuracy. We need also to improve the final plans to be better 
for the needs of the archaeologists with the maximum 
information. And finally we want the fastest and low cost way 
both in the field and in the office. Having the intention to bring 
all those benefits to the archaeological sites we were lead to the 
following solution. 
According to the above mentioned we seek for the ideal way for 
the site surveys, and we chose the use of a model remote 
controlled helicopter which has only one disadvantage and that 
is the need of an experienced operator. But once you have the 
person, everything else is in advantage of it. Because with the 
appropriate adjustments we mount a semi metric calibrated 
camera Rolleiflex 6006 with motor drive and a 80mm lens. We 
have the ability to rotate the camera and use it with a remote 
control. It has been taken care that the gravity centre of the 
camera will always be on the same vertical axis exactly under 
and on the axis of the main rotor of the helicopter. Also the tray 
which holds the camera is suspended on five elastic absorbers in 
order to eliminate the effect of the vibration of the rotor on the 
camera system. The helicopter is a Vario Benzin Trainer model 
with some small changes in its basic configuration such as the 
longer blades and the more powerful engine we used. Another 
change was the new landing system, because between the new 
legs of this system there is the tray that holds the camera. In 
figure 1 we can see the model helicopter taking photos in the 
archaeological site of Rentina. 
  
Figure 1. The model helicopter taking photos in Rentina 
3. APPLICATION 
After the model has been build and tested we surveyed a site in 
Lefkopetra and another one which was a country house in 
Asprovalta area. Both sites were found during the construction 
works of Egnatia which is a main road in North Greece. In the 
following we have a brief description of the second effort and 
some thoughts on the cost analysis of this example. In the 
beginning we put ten targets which have been measured with 
total station and GPS in order to establish the control point 
network in the site. After that we flew the helicopter at 30-40m 
height and we took 24 positive photos at a scale of 1:400 to 
1:500. This was needed one foul to the model and we have to 
land the model once to change the film. The total operation time 
was 2 hours, including the survey of the control points. The 
mission was just two persons; one of them was the operator of 
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