Biscayne Shipwrecks: Analysis

The sea-bed attributes most commonly associated with shipwrecks are used to create a map showing where wrecks are likely to be found.  The first step is to reclassify this data, giving more weight to these classes, and less to attributes were shipwrecks are absent.

The benthic map shows areas in red are most likely to have shipwrecks.  The bathymetric map is based on sea depth.

The two classified maps are combined to create a predictive map.  The benthic map has a greater influence (70%) on the overlay; the bathymetric map has less (30%), reflecting the greater importance of sea-bed type over sea depth in the location of existing shipwrecks.

Biscayne Shipwrecks Week 1

Shipwrecks are common in this area of Florida where the Gulf Stream hugs the coast.  Reefs and storms were two common perils that claimed ships over the last several centuries.  Some sites are known, but others remain uncharted.  By examining bathymetric maps of the sea floor, combined with historic and modern charts and data on characteristics of the bottom type (reef, pavement, etc.), patterns can be detected, and models created to predict where other sites may exist.