The Lelystad Karveel: reconstruction of a seventeenth-century Dutch passenger ferry

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the functionality and applicability of using visualization and computer graphics in the field of nautical archaeology. A seventeenth-century Dutch sailing vessel was used as the vehicle for this project. A virtual reconstruction of the exterior and interior forms of the ship was modelled on the computer. The visualization was then shown to a group of nautical archaeology students, professors and staff who were familiar with the ship. After viewing the project, the students and faculty were asked to express their opinions of the project and to evaluate its possible usefulness in future work in a questionnaire. The questionnaires were evaluated and analyzed and it was determined that the use of visualization could be beneficial to the study of nautical archaeology. The study concludes with a discussion of problems and recommendations for possible future applications of visualization technology to nautical archaeology.