The RRS Discovery was the ship that first took Commander Robert Falcon Scott to the Antarctic, along with legendary figures Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson.
Designed to brave the formidable pack ice of the Southern Ocean, the vessel conducted groundbreaking research on its voyages between 1901 and 1931, becoming the UK’s first Royal Research Ship in 1925.
The only British ship surviving today from the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, the RRS Discovery is now located at Discovery Point in Dundee. However, its stories and materials are dispersed among various UK institutions.
The aim of this project is to bring together the entirety of the ship’s artefacts to make this iconic part of our history accessible to researchers and the public.
Dr Michael Grant, Senior Enterprise Fellow at the University of Southampton, explains: “The 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 research 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
Dr Michael Grant, Senior Enterprise Fellow at the University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is leading the project, in collaboration with the Dundee Heritage Trust, Scott Polar Research Institute, and National Oceanography Centre.
Creating the digital twin
To create the digital twin, the researchers carried out extensive digital recordings using a terrestrial laser scanner of the inside and outside of the ship.
Coupled with aerial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and photogrammetry surveys using drones for more detailed recording of the masts and rigging, this precisely captured the shape, dimensions and details of the entire ship.
Terrestrial laser scanning uses an infrared laser emitter that sends out pulses of laser light towards a surface. The laser beams then reflect off the surface and return to the scanner, where the time taken for the pulses to travel back is recorded.
By rotating the laser scanner in a 360-degree arc and continuously pulsing, the scanner captures data points from multiple angles, covering a wide field of view to create precise three-dimensional maps of the surveyed area.
LiDAR is a remote sensing technology often used for large-scale data collection, which works in a similar way to a laser scanner. Photogrammetry involves analysing overlapping images of an object taken from different angles to work out its size, shape and position.
For more details on the project watch our video on how the digital twin was created.
New insights
The highly accurate 3D representation of the ship delivers exciting new insights into how the ship was built and used, and is informing the vital restoration work being undertaken on the vessel.
The digital twin offers invaluable insights into the RRS Discovery, including its structures and layouts, which we can visualise and query.
Dr Felix Pedrotti, from the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at the University of Southampton
For example, the 3D model can be used in computer simulations to reconstruct how the ship handled the wide range of sea conditions she encountered on her expeditions.
By comparing the digital twin with the original plans of RRS Discovery, researchers can see how the ship has changed over time – which is crucial for her conservation – and understand key aspects such as the hull design and the performance of the rudder and propellor.
This new knowledge will contribute to preserving the legacy of early 20th century Antarctic exploration and confer a wider understanding of the UK's historical role in Antarctic exploration and scientific research.
