Recording and surveying the historic environment

HES investigates and records information about the historic environment which is organised into a national dataset, the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Anyone can access our published records through trove.scot and can nominate a site for survey or inclusion in the national record. 

As the lead public body to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment, we work with organisations across the country. When it comes to recording and managing information on the historic environment, we: 

• survey Scotland's historic places

• lead and collaborate on good practice

• offer advice and support on surveying

• support innovation and development in gathering and analysing historic environment information

• demonstrate good practice in the sustainable management of our information

• review and update existing information in the national record, including how places are mapped

The NRHE is a national dataset covering all aspects of the historic environment in Scotland.  It includes information on archaeological, architectural, industrial and maritime sites and is made available through online services such as trove.scot, where it links with our archive collections and designations data, and PastMap. 

We curate and manage information created by our own teams as well as the wider heritage sector through OASIS and Discovery and Excavation Scotland, and by local groups and communities. We also create new information, with a particular focus on digital mapping and ongoing data upgrade across new and existing records.  

Our work to enhance the usability of the national record includes exploring technologies such as data mining and providing data analysis to help researchers. This more technical aspect of our work aims to reduce processing time, improve stability of our systems, and make it faster and easier to access and compile information.  We do this by providing bespoke datasets and downloads on trove.scot. 

By creating new and improved information and making it available to all, we help inform decision making and research in the historic environment sector. It also engages the public, supporting everyone in their understanding of heritage places. 

Our archaeology and buildings recording teams investigate Scotland’s historic environment in support of HES and heritage sector priorities:

• to support understanding

• to enable decision making

• to document and mitigate change within the historic environment, and

• to develop our National Record of the Historic Environment.

The process establishes what is known and what gaps in knowledge exist about a heritage place. To fill these knowledge gaps we carry out documentary research and field investigation using survey techniques. This survey work identifies and records the nature and extent of the historic site, whether it is an archaeological site, a landscape, a building or a settlement. We then evaluate, interpret and present the results to enhance, or where necessary clarify, understanding of the site.

All survey and knowledge created is deposited in the NRHE and made available to everyone via trove.scot.

Anyone can propose a new record or suggest an upgrade to an existing record in the NRHE. These proposals help us to add understanding, develop broad representation and create new views of heritage within our records. If you think that a heritage site should be surveyed or its NRHE record upgraded, you can do this here or email survey@hes.scot

Survey and recording for planning purposes

HES plays a statutory role in the Scottish planning system for historic buildings and places. If you have a condition attached to a listed building consent or a planning application that requires you to contact our recording teams about documenting a site before works begin, please send details of your proposals to survey@hes.scot. We commit to delivering this work within three months of receiving notification and are always happy to discuss this work before consent is granted.

Emergency Recording Service

We also offer an Emergency Recording Service for the historic environment. Where heritage is being negatively impacted by external factors, for instance the impact of Scotland’s climate emergency, we’re happy to explore how we might use our legislative powers to step in and record a site. Anyone can propose an Emergency survey and we’ll prioritise these on a case-by-case basis - contact survey@hes.scot.

Data standards

We provide advice on data standards, ensuring our records meet national and international standards such as MIDAS Heritage, and work with organisations across Scotland, the UK and Europe to ensure good practice in everything that we do.

These standards ensure our information can be easily understood, used and combined with other datasets.  They enable effective analysis to help everyone understand our changing historic places and landscapes better. 

To ask us for a bespoke dataset, or for advice on managing heritage data and/or data analysis, email heritagedata@hes.scot.

More support and advice

We also offer support and advice to those who are undertaking this type of work, either through published guidance or bespoke advice. Please contact survey@hes.scot.

We undertake survey through use of both traditional and new technologies. Our surveys vary from analysing large areas of archaeological landscape, down to drawing the precise detail of architectural sculpture. The techniques we employ across this range depend on the scale, accuracy and outcomes we’re looking for.

Our teams regularly use:

• LiDAR imagery, aerial photographs and professional grade survey equipment for landscape mapping 

• drone-mounted photography, to produce images and through subsequent processing 3D data

• Traditional hand-measured and drawn techniques

• Laser scanning

• Architectural photography and photogrammetric modelling

• Geophysical survey techniques

In the course of our work, we also develop good practice, methodologies, standards and advice for both survey techniques and applications for the creation of heritage records.