TECHNOLOGY

While the 2010 Goddard expedition relied on a variety of more traditional tools to help explore and document the wreck, the real star was a 3D scanning sonar system (BlueView BV5000) provided by OceanGate and BlueView Technologies.

The BlueView scanning system easily creates high-resolution 3D images of underwater areas and objects. And because of its small size, it can be easily deployed on a boat, tripod, or small ROV. This particular system has had great success within the oil and gas industry, but this is the first time it has ever been used for underwater archaeology.

As demonstrated on the Goddard, this scanner represents a significant technological breakthrough for documenting underwater shipwrecks. In a traditional archaeological survey, divers need to physically measure thousands of points on the wreck in order to accurately document the wreck’s condition, a task that could take years to complete. The BlueView system, however, is able to quickly scan a large target area from a stationary location, capturing millions of individual measurements in a matter of minutes.

Although small, this system utilizes some amazing technology. It works by using sound waves to scan a thin, vertical sonar “slice” around the target. This single slice contains a large number of measured data points that represent a thin profile image of the target’s surface. This process is repeated until the sonar has captured a series of profile images for the entire target. The millions of data points from all the individual scans are then combined into a “point cloud” creating a final 3D model.

Once the final digital model is created, it can be manipulated using different software applications. This allows researchers to make detailed measurements, create cross-sectional views, and even create 3D visualizations and virtual “flights” around and inside the wreck.

The final 3D images of the Goddard show the capabilities of this new technology. Given this success, this technology is destined to play a significant role in future efforts to document historic underwater wrecks.

Archaeologist John Pollack is excited about the potential that this new tool offers. “On the Goddard, we captured a huge amount of detail in shallow water,” he said. “Where this system is really going to shine is when we go to deeper wrecks that may only be accessible to a few divers or ROVs. With the BlueView system, we can now map these complex sites in great detail without risking divers. It just opens all sorts of doors.”