
A 3D rendering of the SS Lake Illawarra in its resting place at the base of the bridge pylons. (Supplied: CSIRO)
RIEGL LiDAR was utilized in the first-ever ultra-high-resolution digital twin of the SS Lake Illawarra and the Tasman Bridge, in preparation for the first major upgrade to the bridge since it was repaired in 1975.
On the night of January 5, 1975, the bulk ore carrier SS Lake Illawarra crashed into the Tasman Bridge in Hobart, Tasmania; with the resulting impact causing a 127-meter-long section of the bridge span and two of its supporting pylons to collapse. The ship’s remains were left on the bed of the Derwent River below the bridge 35 meters under the surface.
In October 2021, the Geophysical Survey and Mapping (GSM) team from CSIRO, along with the engineering firm Jacobs, started an advanced survey of the area and mapped out the shipwreck and the bridge with its surrounding area. The first phase of this survey was done using a RIEGL VMX-2HA Mobile Mapping System to scan the areas above the water.
Learn more at the below links:
Scanning the wreck of the SS Lake Illawarra – MOBYLAK

The resulting 3D imagery of the merged digital twin
About RIEGL:
RIEGL is an international leading provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial and unmanned laser scanning solutions for applications in surveying.
RIEGL has been producing LiDAR systems commercially for over 40 years and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths.
RIEGL’s core Smart-Waveform technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems.
RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDARTM 3D scanners offer a wide array of performance characteristics and serve as a platform for continuing Innovation in 3D for the LiDAR industry.
From the first inquiry, to purchase and integration of the system, as well as training and support, RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers.
Worldwide sales, training, support and services are delivered from RIEGL’s headquarters in Austria and in the USA; main offices in, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and the UK; and a worldwide network of representatives.