Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before
Full-sized digital scans reveal shipwreck in stunning detail, showing unopened champagne bottles.
www.bbc.co.uk
TITANIC PROJECT
The largest underwater scanning project in history has created an exact “Digital Twin” of the Titanic wreck which is allowing science to completely rewrite everything we know about the tragedy.
A team of scientists has completed the largest underwater scanning project in history, creating an exact “Digital Twin” of the Titanic wreck for the first time. This breakthrough allows the team to use scientific methods to reveal the details of the tragedy and uncover fascinating information about what really happened to the crew and passengers on that fateful night.
The Mission
Through the largest underwater 3D capture project ever undertaken research scientists have mapped the Titanic in its entity. From this data a ‘Digital Twin’ has been created that shows the wreck to a level of detail and clarity never seen before. Using technology developed and perfected over five years by deep water specialist Magellan Ltd the exact condition of wreck is revealed and the entire historic site is mapped providing a level of detail never before seen.
Scans of the wreck were carried out over a six week expedition in the Summer of 2022. A specialist ship was positioned in the North Atlantic 700km off the coast of Canada. The expedition deployed two submersibles - named Romeo and Juliet – which spent many hours 3,800 metres (12,500) feet below the surface mapping every millimetre of the wreck in minute detail and mapping the entire 3-mile debris field. In accordance with tight regulations in place the wreck was not touched or disturbed, and the entire site treated with the utmost of respect, which included a flower laying ceremony in memory of those who lost their lives.
The Model
The process generated an unprecedented 16TB of data as well as over 715,000 still images alongside full 4k video footage of the wreck. Using a “Point Cloud” process the team of scientists generated the data which was then processed to create the 3D “The Digital Twin’. The Twin captures the entire wreck including both the bow and stern section, which had separated upon sinking. In addition the team captured the large “debris field” that surrounds the wreck in the same level of detail.
After many months spent processing and rendering the data we can finally see these startling new images. Previous optical images of the ship have been limited by the low light levels and the often poor water quality 12,500 feet beneath the surface but the Magellan mapping technique has produced a whole new level of clarity. It has effectively taken away the water and let in the light. The model is allowing the wreck to be seen in extraordinary detail – for example, the serial number can be seen on the propeller.
Parks Stephenson Titanic Expert
‘I have been studying Titanic for 20 years, but this is a true gamechanger. What we are seeing for the
first time is an accurate and true depiction of the entire wreck and debris site. I'm seeing details that none of us have ever seen before and this allows me to build upon everything that we have learned to date and see the wreck in a new light.
We've got actual data that engineers can take to examine the true mechanics behind the breakup and the sinking and thereby get even closer to the true story of Titanic disaster. For the next
generation of Titanic exploration, research and analysis, this is the beginning of a new chapter.”
Richard Parkinson Magellan Founder & CEO
“This fly by project was borne out the need prove Magellan’s mapping and precision 3D modelling capability, and provide a reference for internal long term works in the SW Pacific over sites of similar scale. But the results are astonishing Over the course of the Titanic project the volume of data that we acquired was enormous - around 715,000 images and some 16 terabytes of data
We believe that this data is approximately ten times larger than any underwater 3D model that's ever been attempted before.
This was a challenging mission. In the middle of the Atlantic we had to fight the elements, bad weather, and technical challenges to carry out this unprecedent mapping and digitalisation operation of the Titanic. I am proud for my teams capability, and hard gained experience and innovations made over the past years in continues operations in >5,000m of water. We are looking forward to sharing our Digital Twin of one of the most famous yet inaccessible man-made objects”.
Gerhard Seiffert “3D Capture Specialist
We used two cutting edge submersibles that are named Romeo and Juliet which were operated simultaneously to provide the third person view of the Digital Twining process and to ensure the site was undisturbed throughout the operation. When we saw the data come in it was all worth it – the level of detail we saw and recorded was extraordinary,
What we've created is a highly accurate photorealistic 3D model of the wreck. Previously footage has only allowed you to see one small area of the wreck at a time. This model will allow people to zoom out and to look at the entire thing for the first time. So, by capturing this 3D model, what we're able to do is visualize the wreck in a completely new way, there's all kinds of amazing small little details that you can see. This is the Titanic as no one had ever seen it before.
About Magellan
Established in 2015, Magellan’s mission is to challenge conventional thinking on how to approach deep ocean and harsh environment projects with a goal to deliver sustainable multi asset seabed operation from a single surface Vessel in 5,500m of water. Magellan is driven by a management team whose background includes offshore contracting, geotechnical, geotechnical survey, and ultra- deep water Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations.
www.magellan.gg
About Atlantic Productions
Atlantic Productions are the media and film partner on the project. Founded in 1992, they are one of the world's leading factual and multi-platform production companies, Their television, theatrical films and immersive experiences have been seen in over 150 countries around the world. They have won over 50 international awards, including multiple British Academy Awards and multiple Emmy Awards.
www.atlanticproductions.tv
