Scientist Create Detailed Map of Titanic Site

Recently a team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute created a detailed map of the wreck site of the RMS Titanic. The map was created with 130,000 photos stitched together to create a photomosaic. Remotely Operated Vehicles fitted with still cameras were used to create the mosaic.  Because light does not travel far in the pitch-black depths of the deep ocean environment, cameras are installed on ROV systems and then placed close to the subject area. Because of the close proximity to the subject only small areas can be captured in the stills.  Cameras are fitted to the ROV and a series of overlapping images of the same area are then combined along their common edges in order to create a much larger image. The ROV is moved along a pattern of the area much like mowing the lawn, and kept at a constant height above the location. Once the images are stitched together with specialized computer software the mosaic creates a more three dimensional map of the wreck site. The debris from the wreck of the Titanic is strewn over a 15 square mile area. The expedition was a joint effort between Woods Hole Oceanographic institute, Waitt Institute of La Jolla, Ca., and NOAA. AUV’s were initially used equipped with side scan sonar to investigate the site before launching the ROV equipped with the camera system to create the photomosaic. Scientists are creating the detailed map in remembrance of the tragic event where over 1500 people lost their lives. The RMS Titanic cost $7.5 Million dollars to build and it took 3,000 men two years to complete construction. The Titanic lies in over 12,000 feet of water at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.