Researchers are using 3D imaging technology to explore the depths of Lake Huron. The lake is part of North America's five Great Lakes and is also the site of many shipwrecks. For this reason, Lake Huron has earned itself the moniker "Shipwreck Alley."
The historical significance of these wrecks may not be immediately apparent to most, but researchers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration think otherwise. The International Business Times reports that advanced imaging software will be used to map out hundreds of shipwrecks lying at the bottom of the lake.
The 3D images are created using a series of photographs which are then fed to a program, Christian Science Monitor reported. "The cool thing about this is it's photo-realistic but it's also perfect 3-D, so you're seeing all sides of it. And it's perfectly scaled. It's a really amazing, accurate tool for measuring and monitoring, and the biggest benefit is the time it takes to develop is very, very small," said Joe Hoyt of the research team.
The first shipwreck to benefit from the 3D imaging effort is the Defiance, a 19th century schooner which sits almost perfectly horizontal on the seabed. The researchers were stunned by the level of preservation of the ship, with its masts still standing, cabins intact, and deck hardware still in place.
The Defiance is just the first of three shipwrecks that are under the team's project. The Windiate and the Spangler are both just miles apart from the Defiance and they have been found to be just as well-preserved as the doomed schooner, according to CBC News.
"People don't have ... a solid understanding of what the value of these sites are, but (that changes) when you can bring it in a 3D manner," said Ryan Bradley, a support diver and graduate student at East Carolina University. He adds, "This technology allows average citizens to get a better understanding of maritime heritage. ... This is America's history. It's still there, it's preserved and it's amazing."
