Mapping Alcatraz: Digitizing The Notorious Prison
Key Benefits at a Glance
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Access Areas that were previously inaccessible for over a century were explored using the Elios 3, without any risk to personnel. |
Safety The drone allowed teams to avoid dangerous or confined spaces, such as wastewater storage areas, ensuring their safety throughout the project. |
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Data Quality The Elios 3's LiDAR technology provided clear and detailed visuals, which are now being compiled into a comprehensive digital model of the entire island. |
Reporting The data collected is helping to manage Alcatraz more effectively, protect it from damage caused by climate change, and reduce the impact of high tourist traffic. |
Pete Kelsey, founder of VCTO Labs, is known for his innovative storytelling through drone mapping and digitalization across the United States. His work often focuses on cultural heritage and historical research, taking him to iconic locations like Pearl Harbor and the mysterious Skinwalker Ranch.
For over a decade, Pete has dreamed of digitizing an entire National Park. In 2023, he was introduced to a park archaeologist at one of the most famous parks in the U.S.: Alcatraz. This led to a groundbreaking project aimed at creating a fully digital version of the historic site.
Planning to Digitize a National Park with Drones
Alcatraz is a small island off the coast of San Francisco, once considered the most secure prison in the world. It operated from the 1930s until its closure in the 1960s and was later added to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Today, it’s managed by the National Parks Service and receives over a million visitors annually.
The Elios 3 provides access to areas unsafe for humans, including the dungeons of Alcatraz
Pete proposed a plan to create a virtual national park using drones, aiming to generate a scientific resource for managing the island, identifying maintenance needs, and accessing dangerous locations. He also envisioned using the data to offer digital tours and help monitor environmental threats like rising sea levels and overcrowding.
It took Pete nine months to secure the necessary permits, especially since drones are typically not allowed in national parks. Once approved, he assembled a team of volunteers, including experts in LiDAR, photogrammetry, and SLAM technology.
Assembling a Specialized Drone Mapping Team
Pete reached out to his network and found a group of passionate professionals willing to volunteer for this unique project. Among them was Matt MacKinnon from UAS Inc., who suggested bringing the Elios 3 for confined space inspections. Although Pete had never used the drone before, he welcomed the tool as it could safely navigate tight areas.
Over three weeks, the team gathered data from every corner of Alcatraz, sleeping in old jail cells due to the lack of infrastructure. Experts from the U.S. and even Australia joined the effort to complete the mission.
The Elios 3 at Alcatraz
Pete hadn’t used the Elios 3 before, but after hearing from his team, he brought it onboard. The drone was essential for capturing data in hard-to-reach places. With its ability to fit into spaces as small as 50x50 cm, it provided both LiDAR and visual data, allowing detailed analysis of even the most challenging areas.
The Elios 3 was used in three main applications: inspecting the old powerhouse, exploring a sealed civil war-era dungeon, and scanning underground cisterns. Each location posed unique challenges, but the Elios 3 proved invaluable in gathering safe and accurate data.
The LiDAR scan of the power plant’s stack captured in detail
The old powerhouse, once used to generate electricity for the island, was completely shut down. It contained aging infrastructure, including oil boilers and HVAC systems. Due to the size of the space, traditional drones couldn’t fit, making the Elios 3 the only viable option for safe data collection.
The team also explored a sealed area behind a barred door, revealing a long-forgotten civil war-era dungeon. Using the Elios 3’s LiDAR, they created a 3D model of the space—something no one had seen in decades.
Finally, the team inspected underground cisterns, which had been inaccessible for years. The Elios 3 easily navigated the tight spaces, giving park rangers valuable insights into the piping systems beneath the island.
How the Elios 3 Simplified Drone Mapping Alcatraz
All the data collected during the project is being processed using an AMD supercomputer. Pete emphasized the critical role the Elios 3 played in the mission.
“I hadn’t seen the Elios 3 in action before, but I was amazed by how much it opened up. Many of these sites would have been impossible to reach without it. It saved time and kept the team safe. I’m truly impressed with what it can do.â€
A compilation of the LiDAR data capture with the Elios 3 on Alcatraz
This project marks a significant milestone for the U.S. and sets a new standard for digitizing national parks. It shows how modern technology can be used for education, research, and preservation. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, projects like this pave the way for a more sustainable and accessible future for our natural and historical landmarks.
Learn more about the Elios 3 and its real-world applications
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