Underwater
Investigations
and
Archaeology

About Dolan

Since 1989 Dolan Research, Inc. has been providing reliable, innovative, and cost-effective solutions in the marine industry from underwater archaeological projects to a wide variety of commercial and industrial needs.

Although originally incorporated to study archaeological shipwreck sites, Dolan has evolved their focus to provide an array of underwater remote sensing services for commercial firms that include: bottom clearance surveys; locating submerged utilities, navigational hazards, and unexploded ordnance; delineating seafloor/bottom types; locating and identifying lost propellers and anchors; above ground fire water tank, pipeline, pier, seawall, and ship hull inspections; and environmental support and biological monitoring. In addition, Dolan continues to conduct underwater archaeological projects for numerous federal and state agencies from the Caribbean/Florida region up the East Coast and across the Great Lakes region.

Sustained success has been achieved by consistently applying sound research ideas with creative technological innovations that are typically customized according to each project’s environmental conditions and/or site-specific requirements. Dolan has an experienced and reputable staff and several long-time associates who are committed to fostering and maintaining relationships with all clients that are characterized by honesty, integrity, and reliability.

Dolan Services

DOLAN RESEARCH. INC. IS A MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTING AND REMOTE SENSING SURVEY SURVEYING FIRM THAT CONDUCTS A WIDE RANGE OF UNDERWATER PROJECTS TYPICALLY CUSTOMIZING OUR SERVICES TO MEET OUR CLIENTS’ NEEDS.

SERVICE LIST

Underwater Archaeological Services (help clients meet all regulatory requirements for Submerged Cultural Resources Management)

Underwater Conditions Surveys

Water Tank Inspections

Hull Inspections

Intake Monitoring

Submerged Utility Identification

Navigational Hazard Clearance Surveys

Unexploded Ordinance

Pier and seawall Inspections

Marine Structural Failures

Environmental/Biological Support

Recovery of lost anchors/propellers/rudders

Pipeline Clearance Surveys

LIST OF REMOTE SENSING EQUIPMENT

SIDE SCAN SONAR

Marine Sonic HDS Towed System with dual frequency (600/1200 kHz) tow fish

Tritech Starfish 450F

FORWARD LOOKING SONAR

Soundmetrics ARIS 3000 (equipped with pan and tilt system)

SEE VIDEO

Teledyn BlueView P900-2250 (equipped with pan and tilt system)

SCANNING SONAR

Tritech Micron

SUB BOTTOM PROFILER

SyQwest StrataBox

ROV

VideoRay Pro 4 (x 2)

MAGNETOMETER

Geometrics 881

Other configurations are available and have been utilized, according to specific project needs.

SURVEY VESSELS

22’ Hewes Craft aluminum survey vessel with 200hp Honda 4-stoke outboard

20’ Carolina Skiff fiberglass work platform

25' Parker survey vessel platform with 250hp Yamaha outboard

UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY

Dolan Research, Inc. specializes in the identification, documentation, interpretation, and evaluation of submerged cultural resources. We have completed underwater archaeological projects, typically conducted in response to federal and state regulations as required by Section 106 Regulation of the National Historic Preservation Program, Protection of Historic Properties, 36 CFR Part 800, in 24 states across the country since the company was founded in 1989. Underwater archeological services, including: maritime historical research; acoustic, magnetic, and seismic remote sensing; target data analysis; and evaluation of submerged site significance according to criteria contained in the National Register of Historic Places are all performed to assist clients manage any/all submerged cultural resource issues. The company has been a long-standing member of the American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA).

UNDERWATER INVESTIGATIONS

By combining state of the art technologies with an experienced and innovative staff, Dolan Research can provide cost efficient and reliable solutions for a wide variety of underwater remote sensing investigations. We have provided support for numerous biological, environmental, and structural projects including both monitoring and inspection projects for a variety of commercial/industrial clients. Remote sensing techniques have been customized to conduct all types of underwater investigations, including: bottom clearance surveys (navigational channels and ship berths); identification of submerged utilities (gas, oil and water pipelines, telecommunication and electric cables); identification of unexploded ordnance; structural inspections (bridge piers, ship hulls, docks, and seawalls); pipeline, water intakes and above ground water-tank inspections; delineation of river bottom types (submerged aquatic vegetation) and locating objects (anchors, propellers, rudders, and vessels). In support of the various types of underwater investigations, Dolan Research owns, operates, and configures a variety of state of the art remote sensing equipment, including, high definition side-scan sonar (Marine Sonic HDS 600/1200 kHz. Tritech Starfish), forward looking sonar (Soundmetrics ARIS 3000 and Teledyne BlueView P900-2250), scanning sonar (Tritech Micron, and Tritech SeaKing Hammerhead), sub-bottom profilers (SyQwest StrataBox), remote operated vehicles (VideoRay Pro 4 ROV), cesium magnetometers (Geometrics 880), Hypack navigational and data acquisition software, and Chesapeake Technology data processing software.

Lee Cox Avatar

J. Lee Cox, Jr., RPA

underwater archaeologist by training

Mr. Cox is an underwater archaeologist by training, having received a B.A. in Archaeology from Duke University and an M.A. from East Carolina University in Maritime History and Underwater Archaeology. In 1989, Mr. Cox established the consulting firm Dolan Research, Inc. which is now one of the leading maritime archaeological consulting firms in the country. The firm has conducted hundreds of underwater investigations up and down the East Coast from the Gulf of Mexico to New England, in addition to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Overseas projects have been completed in Azore Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Hawaii. `

Clients

Commercial and Government Agencies

Commercial Firms
  • A.D. Marble, Inc.
  • A.P. Construction, Inc.
  • Aguilar Environmental, Inc.
  • American Seaway Foods, Inc.
  • Apex Environmental, Inc.
  • Applied History and Archaeology
  • Associates, Inc.
  • Atlantic SubSea, Inc.
  • Boston & Seeberger, Inc.
  • CH2M Hill, Inc.
  • CR Environmental, Inc.
  • Crofton Diving Corporation
  • David Miller & Associates, Inc.
  • Donjon Marine Company
  • Dryden Diving
  • D’Onofrio General Contractors Corp.
  • Echo Real Estate Services
  • E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.
  • Enviroscan, Inc.
  • ESS Group, Inc.
  • GeoMarine, Inc.
  • Giant Eagle
  • Gray & Pape, Inc.
  • Greenhorne & O’Mara, Inc.
  • Hardcore Composites, Inc.
  • HDR, Inc.
  • HRA Gray & Pape, LLC
  • Hunter Research, Inc.
  • Hydrographic Surveys, Inc.
  • Jay Cashman, Inc.
  • John Milner Associates
  • K Sea, Inc.
  • KCI Technologies, Inc.
  • Keystone Ocean Services
  • Kitson & Partners
  • Louis Berger Group
  • Mannington Mills
  • Maverick Management Group
  • Miller Environmental Group, Inc.
  • Murtech, Inc.
  • Mid-Atlantic Technology, Inc.
  • New South Associates, Inc.
  • Norfolk Dredging Company
  • Normandeau Associates, Inc.
  • Northern Land Use Research, Inc.
  • OA Systems Corporation
  • Ocean Power Technolgies
  • PACE Group, Inc.
  • Pennoni Associatrs, Inc.
  • Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc.
  • Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP
  • Sky Research, Inc.
  • S.T. Hudson Engineers, Inc.
  • STV, Inc.
  • TBE Group, Inc.
  • TEC, Inc.
  • TetraTech, Inc.
  • TRC, Inc.
  • Underwater Construction Corporation
  • URS
  • USA Environmental, Inc.
  • Vane Brothers, Inc.
  • Versar, Inc.
  • Volkert, Inc.
  • Waterway Surveys and Engineering, Inc.
  • Weeks Marine, Inc.
  • Wilmington Tug, Inc.
Government Agencies
  • Delaware Department of Transportation
  • Delaware Division of Fish and Game
  • Delaware Division of Soil and Water Conservation
  • Delaware River Port Authority
  • Maryland State Highway Administration
  • Maryland Department of General Services
  • New Jersey Department of Transportation
  • Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation
  • South Carolina Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Virginia Department of Transportation

Contact Dolan

leecox@comcast.net

30 Paper Mill Rd.,
Newtown Square
PA, 19073