This presentation will provide an overview of the PhD research carried out with the aim of designing and critically evaluating a method to monitor visitor behaviour and the physical condition of free-to-enter outdoor heritage sites in Cumbria (Ambleside Roman Fort, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Kendal Castle, Long Meg & Her Daughters Stone Circle, and Shap Abbey). Combining the 'pencil-and-paper' method for recording visitor routes and aerial photography & photogrammetry (creating 3D models) to record the physical condition of sites, it has been possible to identify areas of high foot-traffic, soil erosion and in some cases, areas of standing water on site. Knowledge of these areas will help inform future decisions about caring for the sites.

A key output of the research is a cost-effective toolkit for use at heritage sites, to help measure loss at sites. This has been tested by a voluntary group who run and maintain a heritage site, and their results from testing the toolkit will be presented in the presentation.

About the speaker

Ellie Evans is doing her PhD research at the University of Cumbria (Ambleside campus) whilst working as a consultant in museum digitisation in Lancaster. Ellie has an MSc in Conservation Practice from Cardiff University, where she gained experience in carrying out hands-on conservation treatments and collections care practices. In addition, it was where her interest in using photogrammetry to record the condition of heritage assets began (leading to her PhD research).