3D Technology and the Section 106 Process

Matt DiederichArchaeologist

Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)Oregon Heritage Programs Division

ODOT Environmental ConferenceEugene, OregonApril 22, 2015

Regulatory Overview (Boring!)

• Federal Laws- Section 106 of the NHPA. Applicable on federal and Tribal lands as well as any project with a federal nexus (i.e., federal permit, federal funding, federal agency involvement)

• State Laws- applicable on all non-federal public (e.g., city, county, state) and private lands. These laws also apply when there is a federal nexus.

Section 106 Process

On historic properties, anyway.

The Section 106 Process, Really…

The Short Version: Typical Section 106 compliance process

1. Determine the Area of Potential Effect

2. Identify properties over 50 years old

3. Evaluate integrity4. Evaluate NRHP-eligibility5. Determine Effects6. Avoid or mitigate adverse

effects (if any)

Identify properties over 50 years old

• Conducting background research to determine if properties are present.- Check the SHPO Datatbase for previously recorded sites.

Check historic maps and documents.

Identify properties over 50 years old

1867 GLO Map

1907 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

Survey the APE

Thick ground cover and rough terrain can limit the archaeologists’ ability to locate sites.

Evaluate integrity and NRHP-eligibility

• Criterion A: Association with significant historical events or with the broad patterns of history.

• Criterion B: Association with the life of a person of historical significance.

• Criterion C: Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that

represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.

• Criterion D: Likely to provide or has provided important information about the past.

Applying Criteria to Archaeological Sites

• Identify Boundaries

• Site Composition

• Site Integrity

Evaluate Effects

• There are three kinds of effect determination:– No Effect – either the property is not eligible, or it

is eligible, but will not be affected in any way.

– No Adverse Effect – the property is eligible, but the project as scoped will not affect the ability of the property to convey its historical significance.

– Adverse Effect – the property is eligible, and the project as scoped WILL affect the ability of the property to convey its historical significance.

Where does 3D Technology fit, you ask?

• There are many different forms of 3D technology, Today we’re focusing on only one.– LiDAR- Laser Illuminated Detection And Ranging

3D Homer, not 3D Tech

Lasers!?!

Not these kinds of lasers(Dang!)

These kinds of Lasers• Fast and accurate

remote sensing for digital elevation model

• Laser pule fired at surface from aerial platform measures distance to ground.

• Point cloud data set is generated.

• Laser pulse reflects from objects on and above ground surface.

• Pulse also finds gaps and holes allowing it to “see through” vegetation.

Where does LiDAR fit in the 106 Process?

The Short Version: Typical Section 106 compliance process

1. Determine the Area of Potential Effect2. Identify properties over 50 years old3. Evaluate integrity4. Evaluate NRHP-eligibility5. Determine Effects6. Avoid or mitigate adverse effects (if any)

Let’s look at an agency that uses LiDAR to help with their 106 responsibilities. The Medford District, BLM

Determining APE

BLM slides used with permission

Identifying properties during background research

Identifying and Evaluating

Evaluation and Interpretation

Uses Outside of Section 106, but important for Resource Management

• Section 110 Responsibilities.– Section 110 requires agencies assume

responsibility for historic properties

• Identification of Hazard Features.• Determine if plan of action for

hazardous features.

Hazard Feature Identification

Mitigation of Adverse Effects

I’ll leave that to the guys that actually did it.