Scanning the H.L. Hunley: Employing a structured-light scanning system in the archaeological documentation of a unique maritime artifact

This paper will discuss the use of structured-light scanning on the H.L. Hunley, and highlight some of the specific problems and challenges encountered when employing this technology on maritime archaeological material. In particular, we would like to present a brief study of the effectiveness of optical scanning to record surface details, including issues of reflectivity, color, and surface darkness. Moreover, we intend to address the challenges of using the 3D data to reconstruct the submarine into an accurate, color 3D model. It is hoped that this study will both illustrate the problems associated with recording maritime artifacts and suggest further avenues for research and the development of strategies useful for better data collection.