The National Park Service is adding new dimension to research and visitor
experience at the USS Arizona Memorial by capturing the submerged battleship in
three-dimensional, high-definition imagery. The USS Arizona, as it now rests
submerged in Pearl Harbor on the island
of Oahu, has become a
symbol of one of the 20th century’s most pivotal events. Nearly 1.5
million people make the journey to the USS Arizona Memorial each year to
understand and contemplate the events of Dec 7, 1941. These visitors pay their
respects to those 2,390 Americans who lost their lives on Oahu
and the more than 900 sailors and marines still entombed within the battleship. During a 10-day
field project, NPS and several research partners will capture new underwater
imagery to create an immersive experience in 3D-HD television on the submerged
battleship. The 3D-HD technology uses two parallel HD camera systems to capture
images that our brains interpret as 3D and is similar to the technology the
entertainment industry now uses. “This is not the
gimmicky 3D movies with red-and-blue cardboard glasses of years past” said
Brett Seymour of the NPS
Submerged Resources
Center. “This is a
documentary-style presentation brought to life as the viewer is immersed in the
waters of Pearl Harbor and experiences USS Arizona as a touchstone of
history.” “In addition to educational
and visitor-experience products, these cameras generate high-resolution video
and still images that are critical to the site stewardship and ongoing research
in the areas of structural integrity and oil release,” memorial Superintendent Paul
DePrey said. Advanced Imaging
and Visualization Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, designed
and built the underwater 3D-HD camera systems NPS researchers will use to
document the battleship’s exterior systems.
VideoRay LLC provided a remotely operated vehicle with a miniature
underwater 3D-HD system to researchers so they can assess the condition of cabins
within the ship. “These new
underwater stereoscopic, 3D survey tools we have developed enable maritime
archeologists to conduct extremely accurate surveys of the exteriors and
interiors of sunken vessels quickly and at resolution levels never thought
obtainable,” said William Lange, head of the Woods Hole lab. “We are bringing
the researchers into the very areas they are interested in observing – without
ever having to get wet – and, at the same time, allowing the public to
experience these wrecks through immersive 3D displays in visitor centers and
museums.” The Arizona
Memorial Museum Association has provided support for the project and plans to
incorporate the footage into its ongoing educational programs. The U.S .Navy’s
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE will provide logistical and dive support,
while Ocean Technology Systems provides the underwater communication resources
for the project. Here are some
additional details on the principal partners in this effort: USS Arizona
Memorial at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument – The USS Arizona
Memorial preserves, researches and interprets historic events and resources surrounding
the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu.
The memorial maintains an onsite dive team that actively participates in
scientific research, performs internments and assists with interpretive
programs (www.nps.gov/usar). For information on the dive
program, contact Christine Carr at (808) 422-2772x116; the park’s media contact
is Eileen Martinez, (808) 422-2772x124. NPS Submerged Resources
Center – The Submerged Resources Center
provides direct support to NPS superintendents and partners responsible for
stewardship of submerged resources. It also enhances and facilitates public
appreciation, access, understanding and preservation of those resources (www.nps.gov/submerged). The media contact is
Brett Seymour, (505) 310-5501. Arizona Memorial Museum Association – The Arizona
Memorial Museum Association, a congressionally authorized, nonprofit organization,
supports NPS’ interpretation and related visitor-service activities at four Pacific-region
sites. These sites are the USS Arizona Memorial; War in the Pacific National
Historical Park (Guam); American Memorial Park (Saipan); and Kalaupapa National
Historic Park (Molokai, Hawaii) (www.arizonamemorial.org
). The media contact is Lisa Ontai, (808) 375-9352. Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution – The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a
private, independent organization in Falmouth,
Mass., that since 1930, has dedicated
itself to marine research, engineering and higher education. Its primary
mission is to understand the oceans and their interaction with the Earth as a
whole and to communicate understanding of the oceans’ role in the changing
global environment (www.whoi.edu ). The media contact is William
Lange, (508) 289-2782. VideoRay LLC – With more than
1,200 remotely operated vehicles in service around the world, VideoRay has
become a global leader in Micro-ROV technology. Weighing just 8 pounds, the
VideoRay is as an extremely versatile, portable, affordable and reliable
solution for underwater operations (www.videoray.com ).
The media contact is Brian Luzzi, (610) 458-3015. U.S. Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE – The Navy’s
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE rapidly deploys combat-ready, expeditionary-warfare,
specialized dive teams. These teams conduct harbor and waterway clearance,
emergent underwater repairs, and salvage operations in all environments (www.mdsu1.navy.mil ). The contact number for the commanding
officer is (808) 422-9292.
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