Digital in Underwater Cultural Heritage

Book excerpt: One can argue that academia has always existed in an information age; however, as the general public gains access to ever more advanced systems, it can be claimed that areas of academia require updating to maintain vitality in today’s world. When nautical archaeology produces inspiring reports, they are often at the hand of large budgets, rather than general day-to-day dissemination. This book proposes using state-of-the-art, low-budget digital technology from the outset of surveys, so that data may be recorded, analysed and disseminated, with seamless efficiency and great flair, while employing progressively less decontextualized means. Further, it conveys a simple methodology that allows for data collection by teams of volunteer divers. Big data, rapid analysis, and cross reference requirements have created a shift towards the need for advanced digital means, particularly relating to underwater archaeology, where survey time is limited. This book logs several years of studies, which respect in situ preservation, where the limits of technology were stretched to the cutting edge, using novel collection methods to populate custom-built numerical and visual databases, generating 2D and 3D digital models, and further creating a Virtual Reality “museum”. These advances not only propel the function of academia, but also promote the image of archaeology in an age where visualisation matters.