CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Sumter is once again at the forefront of a battle, but this time around nature is the enemy. Today, Fort Sumter sits barely above sea level at high tide and the island is known to be slowly sinking. Its northern flank is subject to moderate wave action from Charleston's shipping channel, while the daily tides and winds keep the exterior wall surfaces perpetually damp. For historians, archeologists and preservationists alike, these threats are serious.
To better understand the situation, in 2011 a multi-year project was launched by Clemson University's Peter Messier (with support from current and former students) along with Duncan-Parnell, Inc. and Trimble Navigation, LTD. The project has three goals: Assess the structural integrity of Fort Sumter; institute a structural health monitoring program; and accurately measure the fort in order to establish a benchmark for future comparisons. If measurements in subsequent years were to show that Fort Sumter is rapidly deteriorating, additional preservation measures could be considered before it's too late.
From the start, the challenge was daunting: how to measure every aspect of a 180-year-old fort (on a man-made island in an active harbor), to determine whether it is moving from one year to the next, all with millimeter-level accuracy. To accomplish this, the team is employing cutting-edge surveying and 3-D scanning technologies from Trimble, with scanning assistance and comprehensive support from Duncan-Parnell. The methodology they're using may ultimately establish a new standard for monitoring sensitive historic and archeological sites.
Work began in earnest during the summer of 2011 and continued throughout the fall. The team started by determining the current absolute position of Fort Sumter. To track any movement over time, 96 permanent monitoring points were established along the top of the walls and inside some of the gun casements, and core samples were taken to determine the composition of walls. Next, the team conducted numerous precise measurements and 3-D scans of the fort. This data is being used to establish a baseline, and build a 3-D model of six of Fort Sumter's gun casements.
Additional details at: http://bit.ly/xLlJ5F
About Duncan-Parnell and Trimble
Founded in 1946, Duncan-Parnell serves the construction, surveying and design markets with 14 locations in the Carolinas and Georgia. http://www.duncan-parnell.com
Trimble is a leading provider of advanced positioning solutions that maximize productivity. http://www.trimble.com
Contact:
Daryl Huffman
Executive Director
Duncan-Parnell, Inc.
Phone +1-704-575-8645
[email protected]
SOURCE Duncan-Parnell
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