Researcher, Mali
Louis is a UCL-based PhD student with an Archaeology BSc (Durham University, UK), a Computational Archaeology: GIS, Data Science, and Complexity MSc (University College London, UK), and a strong interest in geomatic applications for preventative archaeology. His previous volunteering and then work with the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa Project (EAMENA) at Durham University saw his participation in digital projects on the heritage of Iran and Pakistan. The work inspired him to write his Master’s dissertation on the use of quantitative methods to explore spatial variation of different risk factors to heritage on the Susiana Plain of Southwestern Iran in terms of both presence/absence and severity of risk. His PhD research focuses upon prospection of subsurface archaeological remains in agricultural areas using cutting-edge remote sensing and deep learning approaches.
In addition to his work with MAEASaM, Louis also works as a post-graduate teaching assistant at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, and in his spare time he enjoys reading and writing fiction, going to the gym, and playing new board games with his friends.
Both research and conservation begin with understanding. In order to comprehend and protect African archaeology we need to better learn exactly what heritage and what threats we are dealing with. When considering the ambitious scale of this project, remote sensing currently offers unparalleled methods of accomplishing this. Helping to refine global approaches to these techniques is a personal interest of mine.