Digital Twin of RRS Discovery Created
The famous ship that first took Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic has been digitally recreated in unprecedented detail, as part of a project led by the University of Southampton.
A project led by the University of Southampton has created a ‘digital twin’ of RRS Discovery – the pioneering research vessel that first took explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica.
Using state-of-the-art technology, the team have created a highly accurate 3D representation of the entire ship, delivering exciting new insights into how the ship was built and used, and informing vital restoration work on the vessel.
Dr Michael Grant, from Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services at the University of Southampton, said: “This digital twin provides an amazing opportunity for more people to explore this fascinating ship and learn about its history in a completely new way – including areas of the ship that cannot be accessed by the public.
“Through this we can obtain even greater insights into the lives of the people who explored the Antarctic over a century ago, providing the foundation for much of the ocean and climate science being undertaken today.”
The work is part of a fascinating project to digitise the Discovery Collections, creating highly detailed 3D scans of historic objects associated with the Discovery’s Antarctic expeditions between 1901 and 1931. The project will bring together dispersed collections of objects, scientific samples, documents, and the ship itself, which currently reside in several notable UK Institutions, including Dundee Heritage Trust’s Discovery Point Museum, the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
The University of Southampton team undertook extensive digital recordings of the RRS Discovery using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and laser scanners, over the course of around a week. Were this recording to have been undertaken without the use of state-of-the-art technology, it would have taken far, far longer – relying on manual measurements.
The laser scanners allowed the team to precisely capture the shape, dimensions, and details of the ship. This was supplemented with LiDAR and photogrammetry surveys, resulting in the creation of a highly accurate 3D representation of the entire ship, both inside and outside.
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, involves sending out laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for those pulses to bounce back from surrounding objects. This data is then used to create precise three- dimensional maps of the surveyed area. Photogrammetry involves analysing overlapping images of a subject taken from different angles to deduce the size, shape, and position of objects within the images.
The impressive 3D scanners used can measure up to 1,000,000 points during a 3-minute scan, accurately documenting fragments of paint, woodwork and more aboard Captain Scott’s ship.
The project provides essential information for the Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT) team as they progress the restoration of the ship. The age of this ship means that conservation is a necessary ongoing process, with the ship currently deteriorating in multiple areas, including parts of the internal hull, bow and propeller shaft. A £1.4m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund has allowed the Trust to begin vital conservation work as part of a first phase of the Discovery’s full restoration.
Mel Ruth Oakley, Curator at DHT, said: “The opportunity to take part in this project is invaluable to Dundee Heritage Trust. As we embark on a major conservation project, this digital scan of the ship will provide us with a detailed record of the ship before the work. This is incredibly helpful in determining the conservation work we undertake. The scan can also be used by researchers and enjoyed by our visitors to provide a virtual tour of the ship.
“We are also very excited to have our collections digitally scanned along with the sister collections at NOC and SPRI. This project will bring these objects together through these digital tools – an amazing resource for anyone interested in Discovery’s story of science and exploration.”
Next year marks the centenary of the first Discovery Oceanographic Expedition in Antarctic waters, between 1925- 27, where further important scientific breakthroughs were made, including a greater understanding of whaling, the ecosystems of the great whales and saw the beginnings of conservation thinking.
The new digital twin of the original RRS Discovery will play an important role in the 2025 centenary celebrations, providing new and exciting opportunities for engagement, education and accessibility to this important ship.
The project to digitise the Discovery collections is led by the University of Southampton, in partnership with Dundee Heritage Trust, the National Oceanography Centre and the Scott Polar Research Institute. The work is funded by the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
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