Firm casts light on Yorkshire landmark
ITS wonders are normally reserved for those brave enough to explore its hidden depths.
But thanks to a Yorkshire-based laser measurement technology specialist the first-ever complete 3D model of Gaping Gill, one of Britain’s most famous caves, has been generated revealing new information about the famous landmark.
The detailed model of the entrance shaft and main chamber at Gaping Gill near Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales was created using two laser scanners from York-based Measurement Devices (MDL).
Members of York University Cave and Pothole Club, supported by Bradford Pothole Club and Craven Pothole Club, played key parts in the 3D model.
The image, which was created after the scanners collected more than 12 million points of data, revealed the size of the chamber to be 446ft long by 151ft wide and 384ft from the chamber floor to the moorland above.
The chamber’s dimensions compare with York Minster which has a 197ft high tower, 249ft wide transepts and a length of 518ft and St Paul’s Cathedral, London, which has a 354ft high spire, 246ft wide transepts and a 518 ft length.
The 3D model is to be made available to improve maps of the Gaping Gill and Ingleborough cave system for potholers. It is also being placed on the internet as a 3D revolving video for visitors, cavers and students to explore virtually.
Two of the key members of the team involved in the creation of the model, which was also made to mark the 25th anniversary of MDL, were potholers Kevin Dixon, a chartered land surveyor, and Meg Stark.
Mr Dixon, a laser systems business development manager at MDL, said: “This has been a very exciting project which will be of huge interest to potholers and others who wish to study the Gaping Gill cave system.
“The 3D model shows for the first time the rift development in the roof of the main chamber to the west of the main shaft where water is creating a new waterfall.”
As well as being Britain’s biggest known cave chamber, water from Fell Beck which lands on Gaping Gill’s floor creates Britain’s highest unbroken waterfall.
Clapham farmer, Ian Halliday, used his tractor and trailer to take the MDL equipment to Gaping Gill; Bradford Pothole Club allowed use of its winch to access the main chamber and Craven Pothole Club provided access to its gantry and assisted with deploying MDL technology down the entrance shaft.
An earlier survey four years ago was incomplete as it was unable to include the entrance shaft and the main chamber roof rift.
MDL, which also has bases in Aberdeen and Houston, Texas, and is involved in the mining and quarrying indutries, also creates eye-safe laser measurement technologies for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications and generates 80 per cent of its sales outside the UK.
