The mysterious sinking of the luxury ocean liner Titanic in 1912 has served as a source of fascination for many.
Historians now believe that a new underwater scanning project could provide answers to some of the unanswered questions about the tragedy that killed more than 1,500 people.
A team of scientists has used deep-sea mapping to create “an exact ‘Digital Twin’ of the sinking of the Titanic for the first time,” according to a statement released Wednesday by Magellan investigators and Atlantic filmmakers. Productions.
By carrying out the “largest underwater scanning project in history”, scientists were able to “reveal details of the tragedy and discover fascinating information about what really happened to the crew and passengers on that fateful night” of April 14, 1912.
Sweeps of the wreck were carried out in the summer of 2022 by a specialist vessel stationed 700 km off the coast of Canada, according to the statement.
Strict protocols prohibited crew members from touching or disturbing the wreckage, which investigators stressed was treated with the “ultimate respect”.
Every millimeter of its five kilometer debris field has been mapped in minute detail, the press release said.
The final digital replica managed to capture the entire wreck, including the bow and stern, which broke apart after sinking in 1912.
Parks Stephenson, an expert who has studied the Titanic for 20 years, hailed the project as a “game changer” that managed to unearth “never-before-seen details”.
“We have real data that engineers can use to examine the true mechanics behind the breakup and sinking, and thus get even closer to the true story of the Titanic disaster,” noted Stephenson.
One such example can be found on the propeller, where the serial number can be seen for the first time in decades.
About 715,000 images and 16 terabytes of data were collected during the expedition – which Magellan estimates to be “approximately ten times larger than any underwater 3D model ever attempted before,” said Magellan CEO Richard Parkinson.
Parkinson described the mission as “challenging”, referring to the team’s struggle against “the elements, bad weather and technical challenges”.
While previous optical images of the ship were limited by the low light level and poor light quality at 12,500 feet (3.8 kilometers) underwater, the new mapping technique “effectively took the water out and let the light in”, said the press release.
According to 3D capture expert Gerhard Seiffert, the “high-precision photorealistic 3D model” allowed people to zoom out and look at the entire wreck “for the first time”.
“This is the Titanic as no one has ever seen it before,” added Seiffert.
According to Stephenson, this mapping will herald the “beginning of a new chapter” for Titanic research and exploration.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
