National Park Service/Olympus Webcamera Partnership
Air Quality Webcamera Network
The National Park Service Air Resources Division in Denver, Colorado, maintains a Digital Web Camera Network that provides real-time photographic images and information about current air quality and weather conditions at fifteen National Park Service areas. The Air Quality Web Camera Network is extremely popular with the public. Links to the photos with current visibility conditions and air quality information are posted on the National Park Service Air Quality Web Camera portal web page. In spite of the popularity and educational value of the Air Quality Web Camera Network, the cost of maintaining the network is increasing, in times of decreasing budgets. The National Park Service has established a three year partnership with Olympus resulting in funding for the technical support and equipment upgrades for the Air Quality Web Camera Network. Funding from Olympus was transferred to the National Park Service to maintain the current Air Quality Web Camera network. Olympus also provided funding to upgrade four of the 16 digital camera sites. Olympus will also provide future funding to upgrade the remaining 12 sites. The upgrades will include replacing existing cameras with Olympus E-420 digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras (cameras provided by the company); replacing selected computers; replacing or relocating critical component enclosure parts; replacing existing camera cables where needed; upgrading ARS Digicam software; upgrading selected Internet communications systems; and upgrading FTP server software. To learn more about Olympus' activities with the National Park Service, including the "Share the Experience" photo contest, visit www.getolympus.com/nationalparks.
