The University of Southampton has led a project to create a ‘digital twin’ of a pioneering research vessel.

The project focuses on the RRS Discovery, the research vessel that took explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica.

Using advanced technology, a highly accurate 3D model of the entire ship has been created, offering insights into its construction and use and valuable information for restoration efforts.

Dr Michael Grant, from Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services at the University of Southampton, said: "This digital twin provides an amazing opportunity for more people to explore this fascinating ship and learn about its history in a completely new way - including areas of the ship that cannot be accessed by the public."

The digital project also creates 3D scans of historic objects associated with the Discovery’s Antarctic expeditions between 1901 and 1931.

Officers and scientists on board RRS Discovery in 1901Officers and scientists on board RRS Discovery in 1901 (Image: Dundee Heritage Trust)

Digital recordings for this project were conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and laser scanners, supported by LiDAR and photogrammetry.

Dr Felix Pedrotti, from the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, said: "With the rise of new technologies, such as laser scanners and UAVs, we can now create highly accurate digital twins.

"These digital replicas offer invaluable insights into the RRS Discovery, including its structures and layouts."

The RRS Discovery was launched in 1901.

It was instrumental in the careers of some of the leading figures in the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’, including Mr Scott and Mr Shackleton, and Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly.

Today, it is a visitor attraction operated by Dundee Heritage Trust, attracting over 80,000 visitors a year.

The digital twin project greatly supports conservation efforts, with Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT) citing the scans as crucial for restoration work.

Mel Ruth Oakley, curator at DHT, said: "The opportunity to take part in this project is invaluable to Dundee Heritage Trust."

The digital model will also play a role in the upcoming 2025 centenary celebrations of the RRS Discovery's first oceanographic expedition in Antarctic waters.