Lasers Scan Caves for Science

Using a spinning IR laser, scientists at scan caves to produce millions of high accuracy measurements. The resulting data is used for education, restoration and resource management.

(PRWEB) September 14, 2004 -- The complexity of caves are finally giving up their mystery. Using a spinning IR laser and special cameras, scientists in California are mapping caves with profound detail and high accuracy. The key is using the travel time of light to tease out millions of distances in a matter of minutes.

Replacing the tedious and low accuracy technique of hand sketches, aided with a compass and tape measure, the new technology captures the entire detail of cave formations, passages and archeological remains. Where current cave maps may contain dozens or a couple hundred measurements, the scanning laser captures tens of millions of highly detailed measurements. A special camera also documents the color and condition of the cavern surfaces.

Educational content for teaching geology is the first use of the data. The scanner is producing comparative databases of limestone caves, sea caves, lava tubes, and caves formed in unusual materials. A commercial cave owner plans to use the detailed data for tracking vandalism and assisting in restoration. More theoretical work is being done on detailed airflow studios to study radon pooling, plus comparison of formation growth against known paleoclimatology.

The work is being done by science lead Greg Passmore and is sponsored by 3DH Corporation in Atlanta.

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