Year: 2025
Type: data-paper
Abstract: Shipwrecks hold significant historical, archaeological, and ecological value. In this dataset, we present two high-resolution (~0.60 cm & 3.0 cm GSD) orthomosaics and associated data that accurately maps the so-called "Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay", a prominent shipwreck assemblage near the eastern banks of the Potomac River, Maryland, USA. Using unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), we conducted aerial surveys at regional and individual wreck scales, imaging all 147 wrecks in the bay. Through structure-from-motion photogrammetric processing, we generated the highest-resolution georeferenced mosaics currently available for Mallows Bay. We used the regional orthomosaic to vectorize individual wrecks, with the resulting polygons linked to archaeological records from the Maryland Historic Trust. These data establish a baseline for the shipwreck-associated ecological, archaeological, and cultural resources at Mallows Bay. The orthomosaics and associated outputs suit various applications, including image analysis and habitat mapping. The digital spatial records of individual wrecks support field research efforts and aid in monitoring the evolution of shipwrecks over time.
Source: Scientific Data
Institution: Duke University
Language: English
Subfield: Geology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Award: G7028162686
OpenAlex ID: W4414493829