Archaeologists plan to use LIDAR to study ancient Rajgir Hills

Indian archaeologists are planning to use high-end lasers to map Bihar’s ancient city of Rajgir. 
●    The plan is a part of their inter-disciplinary Rajgir Archaeological Survey Project (RASP), which includes surveying the archaeological evidence and the flora and fauna of the area.
●    To achieve the same, archaeologists are planning to make use of a remote-sensing technique, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), which uses laser light to survey the earth’s surface. 
●    The LIDAR device will have to be mounted on drones or helicopters to get the expected result, for which necessary permissions are required.
●    It is a collaborative project between the society and Nalanda University in co-ordination with Bihar’s Ministry of Art, Culture and Youth.
●    It aims to establish a better understanding of the historic city’s landscape by studying the existing archaeological remains through a comprehensive survey. 
●    It will examine the multi-phased development of Rajgir as an urban, political and religious centre.