Digging up the past to uncover archaeological remains may be good news for historians. But for planners and others hoping to develop a site, such evidence of former use is usually far from welcome.

Archaeologist Mark Belcher understands the problems they face - and he's established a new nationwide hi-tech service to help tackle them.

Based near Usk in Monmouthshire, Site Scan (Archaeological) specialises in geophysical and topographical surveys, especially for the commercial sector. It's one of only a handful of companies across the UK to provide this service, combining intellectual rigour and knowledge with practical use of the latest electronic equipment.

"In a country like Britain, signs of ancient history such as castles and other old buildings are all around us. But a lot of past evidence is hidden - literally beneath our feet - and sometimes covered up by subsequent developments," said Mark. "There's much more interest in preserving these remains than there once was. Planning strategies and environmental impact assessments have to take account of potential archaeological aspects. And of course the discovery of something significant after development has already started can add hugely to costs, as well as causing delay."

One local example where prior knowledge of the existence of hidden traces would have saved time and money was the discovery in 2002 of the well-preserved remains of a medieval ship during site excavation for the Riverfront arts centre in Newport.

Site Scan's surveying is carried out before or after planning consent to see whether special consideration for archaeological activity needs to be factored into project costs and timescales.

The company uses highly sophisticated detection equipment to measure what lies beneath the surface.With his expertise as a qualified archaeologist, Mark is then able to interpret the data and provide an accurate and valuable picture of potential problems which developers may encounter. "People today are much more aware of archaeology. I set up Site Scan because I saw there was a gap in the market for a service providing academic and technical skills for the commercial sector," Mark said.

It's a service he predicts will be in demand not just in Wales and elsewhere in the UK, but also overseas.