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IMH Supports ECU Graduate Student with Aerial Survey of Maine Shipwreck

In late October 2015, Stefan Claesson assisted Jennifer Jones, a PhD candidate in the Coastal Resources Management program at East Carolina University (ECU), with aerial documentation of the wreck of Howard W. Middleton. This three-masted schooner went aground in Scarborough, Maine, in 1897 laden with coal.

The purpose of Jen’s dissertation at ECU is to conduct a comparative analysis of coastal shipwreck sites along the eastern seaboard of the US in order to facilitate discussion of short- and long-term management strategies for their preservation. Her research will look primarily at the archaeological remains of ships in the beach zone that are periodically exposed and reburied, they vary between being both visible and frequently forgotten features of the coastal landscape. Because shipwrecks in the beach zone are highly susceptible to environmental and human impacts, there are numerous challenges to protect and manage these types of resources. Although little can be done to prevent natural coastal processes, a better understanding of how they affect beach zone shipwrecks will allow for better decision-making and resource protection. At the same time, an understanding of values and public attitudes toward beached wrecks can assess who cares and what is important about these resources, and allow for the development of appropriate and innovative management strategies.

The wreck of Howard W. Middleton, provides an excellent candidate for her study, in that it is well-known within the local community, is visible to the beach-going public during low tides, and is affected by a variety of dynamic coastal processes. Jen and I captured a number of perspective aerial images to get a better understanding of the wreck’s setting on the beach. We also collected high-resolution overhead images of the wreck site, which were then assembled into a photomosaic.

While in the field, sub-decimeter GPS positions were taken on numerous points of the wreck site. These points were then used to rubber-sheet the mosaic, which can now be used as a relatively accurate and measurable site plan. Another benefit of this baseline documentation is that future flights along the same paths and image locations could be used to measure and document changes or impacts to the site in the future. For example, how might the wreck be affected by construction of nearby seawalls, jetties, or breakwaters? Or, how might the wreck be impacted by coastal storms and sea-level rise? Should it be documented and information recovered before it is lost or damaged? These are some questions that Jen will be working to address in her study.

Please contact Jen Jones if you would like to learn more about her ongoing research and project.

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Rectified Photomosaic of Howard M. Middleton Wreck

This high-resolution photomosaic of the Howard M. Middleton wreck site was ortho-rectified based on sub-decimeter GPS ground control points. The imagery is geometrically corrected and scaled so that it can be measured and used as an accurate site map.

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IMH Takes to the Skies

In the northeast, IMH is working with state agencies and university students to document coastal archaeological sites in tidal environments, and coastal sites that have become exposed as a result of storms.

Not to be confused with Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), IMH recently volunteered its DJI Phantom 3 Professional, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), aka “drone”, to document shipwrecks exposed following offshore hurricanes and heavy beach erosion on Salisbury and Seabrook Beach in Massachusetts and New Hampshire:

http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/remnants-of-centuries-old-shipwreck-wash-ashore-at-salisbury-beach/article_7d6e2781-d7a5-5235-9f80-223908847145.html

http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20151105/NEWS/151109434

State agencies such as the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeology, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, and Maine Historic Preservation Commission, occasionally receive notification from the public of exposed shipwrecks and coastal prehistoric sites, but almost always lack the resources and manpower to conduct site visits and gather information that can be used to document exposed archaeological sites, and inform decision-making and support preservation efforts. Here is where IMH (and UAVs) can play an important role in supporting the documentation and preservation of maritime heritage.

Case in point, in October-November 2015, following hurricanes Joaquin and Kate, beachgoers reported to state agencies that large shipwreck fragments were exposed or had washed up on Salisbury and Seabrook Beach. The agencies then contacted me and asked if I could make a site visit and evaluation. My response was, of course! After a short 20 minute drive from home, I was able to quickly deploy the UAV and document the wreckage within 15 minutes. The Phantom 3 has an on-board Global Positioning System (GPS) that provides excellent location data for the UAV, but not necessarily the subject matter of the image (i.e., the wreckage). Therefore, I also collected Ground Control Points (GCPs) using a sub-decimeter GPS, which allowed me to correctly orient and scale the wreck debris. After a few perspective shots to provide context, a close-up overhead shot, and about an hour of post-processing on the computer back at the office, “Voila!” – the result was a high-resolution, accurate site plan, allowing for direct measurement from the photograph:

The imagery not only provided documentation for posterity, but also supported decision-making for those government agencies charged with the protection and conservation of maritime heritage in the following ways:

  1. Determined that the wreckage was squarely in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and not in New Hampshire, as originally reported.
  2. The debris was clearly a large fragment that was disarticulated (or dislodged) from a shipwreck site as a result of recent storm, tidal, and wave activity, and was not in situ (in its original location), or representative of a shipwreck site.
  3. Provided site formation process insights, in that within two days the wreckage had migrated some 300 feet south from its original reported location, and had broken off from what was once a much larger hull fragment.
  4. Allowed state agencies to record site location information into cultural resource databases, make decisions about the historical significance and conservation potential of the reported finds, and alerted coastal resource managers of the presence of heritage and shipwreck sites in the area.
  5. Confirmed that UAVs offer a cost effective, rapid response, and accurate means of documenting maritime heritage sites.

There were no identifying marks or historical artifacts to indicate which ship the wreckage is associated with, but it is generally thought that the fragment is from the wreck of Jennie M. Carter, a three-masted schooner that beached in a storm in 1894 en route from Rockland, Maine to New York with a cargo of stone. The wreck fragment appears to be coincident with 19th-century schooner construction, so this wreckage is perhaps associated with Jennie M. Carter, but could not be confirmed. Any future survey work, such as wood species and dendrochronology sampling could support further vessel identification and dates of ship construction or repair.

Based on the aerial imagery provided by IMH, the decision at the state level was ultimately to not recover the debris or conduct any further investigation of the wreckage. There is generally little appetite for or availability of public funds to document and conserve artifacts of this nature, and therefore the “do-nothing” response at the local, state and federal levels, beyond basic recordation is perhaps appropriate but also not surprising. However, when responsibly and safely deployed, the UAV is certainly one tool that can be used effectively by organizations such as IMH to raise awareness of and document and preserve maritime heritage in a way that also supports, encourages, and engages our government and citizens to do the same.

In 2016, IMH will be using its UAV to document maritime heritage from an entirely new perspective. I will be taking to the skies to photograph a variety of maritime archaeological sites and built-heritage sites throughout New England. Check back to the IMH website for updates on IMH’s UAV work!