Using the Map

As well as the LiDAR hillshade and local relief model visualisations, the map contains lots of additional information to help you read the landscape. Switch any map layer on by ticking the box beside its name.

There are three types of information layers; background imagery, data layers, and feature layers.

Background Imagery

Background layers appear in the order they sit in the layer menu which means that only the top-most layer will be shown at any time. For the three lidar layers and the OS second edition you can adjust the transparency using the slider beneath the layer name to blend it with the layer below.

OS 2nd Edition partially transparent over lidar DTM Hillshade
layers in the lidar viewer
  • LiDAR Local Relief Model
    • best for subtle microtopography, e.g ploughed features
  • LiDAR hillshade (terrain)
    • shows all vegetation and buildings, good for context)
  • LiDAR hillshade (surface)
    • shows ground only, good for context and microtopography
  • OS 2nd Edition (1899-1900)
    • Ordnance Survey historic map supplied by the National Library of Scotland
  • Aerial photography
    • Supplied by Microsoft Bing © Vexel Imaging
  • Modern Ordnance Survey Map 1:25,000
    • Supplied by Microsoft Bing © Ordnance Survey
OS 2nd Edition 1899-1900
OS 2nd Edition (1899-1900)
LiDAR Local relief model
LiDAR Hillshade (Terrain)
Aerial Photography

Comparing two layers

You can use the keyhole tool to compare any two basemaps. Click the icon to open the window to see the layers adjacent to each other. The keyhole window can be moved and resized to change the view. Watch the video below to see how


Data Layers

Data layers contain information about features that have already been recorded. We use polygons and points to represent these features and provide url links to their full record in external websites.

Clicking on any feature in these layers gives you access to more information. Click the hyperlink in the feature pop up to open the HER and Scheduled Monument records

  • Sample Lidar Transcriptions
    • shows features transcribed in four sample areas of the Cranborne Chase lidar by our specialist
    • clicking any feature opens its record
  • Historic Environment Record
    • shows contains combined point data from Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire HERs)
    • clicking any feature on this layer links to the full monument record in a new tab
  • Scheduled Monuments
    • shows the extent of scheduled monuments from Historic England
    • clicking a feature on this layer links to the full monument record in a new tab
Sample Lidar Transcriptions
Historic Environment Record
Scheduled Monument

Clicking on any feature in these layers gives you access to more information. Click the hyperlink in the feature pop up to open the HER and Scheduled Monument records

HER Feature points pop up
Scheduled Monument Areas Popup
click the hyperlink to open the online HER record in a new tab
click hyperlink open online record

Feature Layers

Feature layers contain the transcriptions made by the volunteer community using the Cranborne Chase Portal

  • Potential Archaeological Features
    • shows a polygon layer with features drawn by our volunteers
    • click on any feature to open its record
  • Chalk Pits
    • shows a layer containing all points with the locations of more than 2500 chalk pits that were mapped as part of the Chalk Pits Project

Why is it
important?

LiDAR is just the starting point – there’s so much to learn and discover about our historic landscapes and how people lived in the past.

Get involved

The Cranborne Chase LiDAR portal was developed as part of the Chase & Chalke project ‘Champions of the Past’, a major archaeological project which aims to provide opportunities for people to learn about and engage with archaeology. 

To find out more about the project and Chase & Chalke, click below.