Waterloo-based 2G Robotics is set to deploy its underwater laser scanners to Italy next week to provide a detailed picture of the submerged sections of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship.

The Costa Concordia struck a rocky reef when it ventured too close to the Italian island of Giglio, in January 2012, tearing a hole in the hull and partially sinking the ship. Thirty-two passengers and crew were killed.

The ship is being prepared to be uprighted, a process called parbuckling, and then dismantled.

Hubert Palej, the project manager for 2G Robotics, will travel to Italy again next week to perform scans of the ship's hull.

According to 2G, the laser scanners capture points of information along the ship's hull, which are then put together to create what 2G calls a "Point Cloud". That cloud can be put into drafting software like CAD, enabling engineers to create a detailed 3D picture.

According to the Italian Civil Protection department, final inspections are expected to be completed soon. Once those steps are completed -- weather and waves permitting -- the parbuckling can begin.

The Costa Concordia will be hoisted upwards and rotated horizontally to bring it to an upright position.

Italian authorities say they will hold a news conference to announce the exact date of the operation, though Reuters quotes one official who says the parbuckling could happen Monday.

The decision was made not to leave the ship lying on its side for the winter, because of fears that it wouldn't be possible to upright it in the spring.