Application of Remote Sensing Techniques to Identification of Underwater Airplane Wreck in Shallow Water Environment: Case Study of the Baltic Sea, Poland

Abstract

Multibeam echo sounders (MBES), side-scan sonars (SSS), and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are irreplaceable devices in contemporary hydrographic works. However, a highly reliable method of identifying detected wrecks is visual inspection through diving surveys. During underwater research, it is sometimes hard to obtain images in turbid water. Moreover, on-site diving operations are time-consuming and expensive. This article presents the results of the remote sensing surveys that were carried out at the site of a newly discovered wreck, in the southern part of the Baltic Sea (Poland). Remote sensing techniques can quickly provide a detailed overview of the wreckage area and thus considerably reduce the time required for ground truthing. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the process of identification of a wreck based on acoustic data, without involving a team of divers. The findings, in conjunction with the collected archival documentation, allowed for the identification of the wreck of a Junkers Ju-88, a bomber from World War II.