Minnewanka Landing Stove
3D photogrammetric model of a century-old stove at the bottom of Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada.
This page presents a 3D photogrammetric model of a century-old stove at the bottom of Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada. The stove is part of the submerged Minnewanka Landing townsite, a former lakeside settlement that was flooded when the lake was raised for hydroelectric development.
The model was created from frames extracted from underwater video captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Imagery was processed in 3DF Zephyr to generate the initial photogrammetric reconstruction, then refined and cleaned in Blender for presentation.
This project was entirely unplanned. I had originally intended to assist with a scuba training course that day, but a cold kept me out of the water. Instead, I took a small boat and underwater drone to investigate several sidescan sonar targets identified on a previous trip. When the stove appeared on the controller screen, I took advantage of unusually good conditions to document it and see whether a usable 3D model could be produced from opportunistic video footage.
The resulting model allows close inspection of an artifact that is otherwise difficult to access without a boat and specialized equipment. While many local divers are aware of the Minnewanka Landing site, reaching it can be logistically challenging. This 3D model offers a way to explore part of the submerged townsite remotely, supporting historical interest and public engagement with Alberta’s underwater cultural heritage.
2024-10-08