I joined Wessex Archaeology straight after finishing my MA in September 2015. Since then, I’ve done just about everything there is to do as a commercial archaeologist from Fieldwork excavations and Terrestrial Geophysics to working in our Geomatics department as a Geospatial specialist – the role I find myself in currently.
Working in a supporting role to the Fieldwork teams as well as conducting my own technical surveys has meant that throughout the Covid pandemic I’ve been able to do a lot of hybrid working. My day-to-day role can involve answering technical support calls from the Fieldwork teams, undertaking equipment maintenance, delivering project work or aiding the management team in costing for tenders.
![Using a FARO Focus Laser Scanner inside the HMS Trincomalee](/sites/default/files/styles/image_paragraph/public/field_image/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%281%29%20Edited.png?itok=Tt1qKVZL)
Using a FARO Focus Laser Scanner inside the HMS Trincomalee
Recently I have been working on a terrestrial laser scanning project in collaboration with the Built Heritage team. This involved a couple of days in the field recording the data using tripod mounted 360-degree laser scanners before returning to the office to process and digitise the software. I have conducted many laser scans whilst working for Wessex Archaeology but surveying the HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool was a particular highlight. However, I haven’t digitised the results before so its nice to have the opportunity to see the project through from start to finish.
![On site at the HMS Trincomalee project](/sites/default/files/styles/image_paragraph/public/field_image/_IMG0184%20Edited_0.jpg?itok=hkJep1hP)
On site at the HMS Trincomalee project
In between the survey and digitisation process I also made a site visit to some of our HS2 sites to conduct drone flights. As one of Wessex Archaeology’s qualified drone pilots I regularly attend sites to record the archaeology from the unique perspective of drone photography. This can be quite challenging, especially at our sites near Coleshill as I have to liaise directly with the Air Traffic Control of Birmingham Airport, and on one of my latest flights was stopped by Police and had to prove I had been given permission to fly by the Airport!
![Wessex Archaeology UAV specialists in the field](/sites/default/files/styles/image_paragraph/public/field_image/49141082227_065d43e969_o.jpg?itok=zNYz2BMD)
Wessex Archaeology UAV specialists in the field
I am also one of the staff members on the trial Leadership and Management Apprenticeship scheme and am currently helping to develop a new survey-based Health and Safety procedure.
Working in a role that has such varying workloads each with their own time pressures can be really demanding and I have to balance my project-based responsibilities with those of my support role. Sometimes this can be tricky – especially when there are overlapping and conflicting deadlines. The work I am involved with for Wessex Archaeology leads to some hectic and busy weeks and there’s never a quiet day in the life of a Geospatial Specialist!
By Jack Fox-Laverick, Geospatial Specialist and UAV Pilot