Titanic to Be Mapped in 3-D

James Cameron might not have had the chance to film his famed blockbuster 'Titanic' in three dimensions, but a research team is set to do the next best thing: create a 3-D map of the wreck.

On August 18th, an assemblage of scientists, including archaeologists and oceanographers, will embark on an expedition to map the ship's wreckage and debris field in 3-D. Expedition leader David Gallo told the Associated Press that the mission has two objectives: "One is to preserve the legacy of the ship by enhancing the story of the Titanic itself. The second part is to really understand what the state of the ship is." In the 98 years since the ship's sinking, it has been subjected to brutal undersea conditions, and doubt remains as to how long its structure will hold together.

The expedition will use the most advanced sonar and imaging technology available in order to achieve the best possible understanding of the Titanic's condition, as well as catalog debris that may have been hidden under years of sea floor sediment. We expect this data, as well as the 3-D maps created by the team, to be available to the public in time for the disaster's 100th anniversary, on April 15th, 2012. [From: BoingBoing, via: SFGate]

Tags: 3-d, 3D, 3dImaging, exploration, JamesCameron, shipwreck, titanic, TitanicMovie, top