Mapping Alcatraz: Digitizing the Notorious Prison
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*The Elios 3 allowed access to confined spaces, such as the dungeons, ensuring safe data collection.*
Pete envisioned creating a virtual national park—a scientific resource to manage the island, identify maintenance needs, and explore dangerous locations. This tool would also provide digital access to closed-off areas for tourists and serve as a global educational resource. Additionally, the island faces environmental challenges due to rising sea levels and high tourist footfall. The digital replica of Alcatraz could help monitor changes, plan responses, and preserve the site.
Securing the necessary permits took Pete nine months. Once approved, he assembled a diverse team of volunteers spanning the mapping and surveying industries.
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## Building a Specialist Team
Pete reached out to his network, seeking experts in drone-based LiDAR, photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning, and SLAM technologies. Every volunteer joined out of sheer enthusiasm for being part of this groundbreaking project. Among them was Matt MacKinnon from UAS Inc., who suggested bringing the Elios 3 into the mix just days before the project began.
Over three weeks, Pete and his team of volunteers meticulously mapped every inch of Alcatraz, including its rocky terrain and buildings. Without guest accommodations on the island, the team resided in old jail cells. Experts traveled from across the United States and even Australia to contribute their skills.
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## The Role of the Elios 3
Pete Kelsey had never worked with the Elios 3 prior to this project, but its potential intrigued him. Recommended by Matt MacKinnon and pilot Geoff Helluin, the drone proved invaluable for exploring confined spaces. The Elios 3’s ability to navigate areas as small as 50x50 cm while collecting both LiDAR and visual data was crucial for capturing hard-to-reach locations.
Three primary applications emerged for the Elios 3 at Alcatraz:
1. **Powerhouse Inspection**: The old powerhouse, shut down and off-limits to the public, presented numerous hazards, including oil-fed boilers and HVAC systems. The Elios 3 was the only tool capable of safely gathering LiDAR data in this space.
2. **Civil War Dungeon Exploration**: Behind a sealed, barred door lay a civil war-era dungeon. No one had entered this area in decades due to safety concerns. Using the Elios 3, Pete’s team created a 3D model of the dungeon, marking a major breakthrough for archaeologists.
3. **Cistern Inspection**: Two cisterns, buried underground and rarely accessed, posed a challenge for inspection. The Elios 3 effortlessly mapped these structures, providing clarity on their piping networks.
*The Elios 3 captured detailed LiDAR scans of the powerhouse, offering unprecedented insights into its architecture.*
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## Simplifying Drone Mapping
All data collected during the project is being integrated using a powerful supercomputer from AMD. Pete emphasized the Elios 3’s contribution:
“I had never witnessed the Elios 3 in action, but it blew me away. Without it, many areas would remain inaccessible. It saved us countless hours and kept the team safe. I am truly amazed by its capabilities.â€
This project marks a milestone for the United States, setting a precedent for digitizing National Parks. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Pete and his team have demonstrated how modern tools can revolutionize preservation efforts.
To learn more about the Elios 3 and its diverse applications, dive deeper into our resources below.
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**P.S.** The video below offers a glimpse into the LiDAR data capture process at Alcatraz.
*Video: Compilation of LiDAR data capture with the Elios 3 at Alcatraz.*