Investigators:
Mr. Paul K. Matthias (left), Polaris Imaging, Inc., Wakefield, Rhode Island

IFREMER, the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer

Description of Project
Mr. Paul Matthias of Polaris Imaging, Inc. teamed up with IFREMER during Expedition 1996 to produce a preliminary archaeological site map of RMS Titanic. The site plan was produced from images collected by electronic instruments called side-scan sonars and sub-bottom profilers. Side-scan sonars transmit and receive acoustic signals (sound waves) through the water column. These instruments then interpret the reflected sound waves to create graphic and digital images of the ocean floor, objects on the ocean floor, and materials within the water column. Sub-bottom profilers operate in a similar manner, but are able to "see through" sediments of the ocean floor to create graphic and digital images of an object under investigation, such as the bow and stern sections of RMS Titanic.

A side-scan sonar was mounted on IFREMER's submersible Nautile to collect "bird's eye" images of the site. These images were merged into a composite map using EOSCAN, a sonar acquisition, processing, and display system developed by Polaris Imaging, Inc. A sub-bottom profiler was used to acquire images of the bow and stern sections buried under sediments of the ocean floor. The preliminary site plan was assembled from these various images to depict structural remains of the vessel, debris fields associated with the site, and over 400 artifacts (i.e., cultural materials) located within the debris fields.

During Expedition 1998, Mr. Matthias teamed up with IFREMER to collect over 7,000 digital camera images of RMS Titanic. About 3,000 of these high-resolution images were merged together using EOMAP software developed by Polaris Imaging, Inc. to form a photo mosaic of the bow and stern sections of the site (i.e., a photographic "bird's eye" view). The photo mosaic features areas of the site that have historical or scientific significance.

Future Research Interests
Application of advanced technologies in imaging of RMS Titanic.

Information Sources:
Polaris Imaging, Inc., Wakefield, Rhode Island

Wels, Susan. 1997.
Titanic: Legacy of the World's Greatest Ocean Liner. TIME-LIFE Books, New York, NY.