The archaeological study of standing buildings is often compounded by the need to examine hidden areas and by the loss of information from objects due to the action of weathering and decay. It is not always possible or desirable to examine the fabric ‘destructively’ or to remove fittings to the laboratory for examination. Research into the development and application of ground-based remote sensing techniques has produced significant results, enabling the in situ non-destructive survey of historic buildings and their fittings. Archaeological sites under excavation have also been surveyed using similar principles. This paper reviews the problems and methodology employed to date.