The information technology component of NCPTT continues to evolve as it
takes on a greater role in the mission of the Center. Each of the IT component’s
four elements saw an increase in activity during FY 2006.
Grants and Projects
NCPTT’s Web Developer, Sean Clifford, continues to revamp and streamline the
PTT grants system. NCPTT now has an in-house automated system that allows users
flexibility in producing their grant applications as well as easing the task of
managing the grants program for the staff.
Internet Program
NCPTT is a leader in the electronic dissemination of information. A major
focus of the program has been the continuing development of NCPTT’s website to
deliver preservation information and NCPTT products to the preservation
community. A great deal of the credit for the increased traffic of the website
is the addition of an on-line catalog. This has been an exciting development as
the Center strives to project a stronger presence in the preservation community
through its electronic outlet.
In-office Computer Systems
Both hardware and software capabilities change rapidly in today’s business
environment. Utilizing current computer technologies facilitates the
accomplishment of NCPTT’s mission. Information management staffers are
responsible for keeping in-office systems current, updated, and functioning
properly.
In an effort to protect NCPTT data and systems from intruders a firewall was
installed, a disaster recovery plan has been written and implemented and a plan
is currently being developed to address a catastrophe to the workstations and
servers. Additionally, NCPTT’s workstations were equipped with UPS backup
systems to combat power outages and rogue surges. The measures have made NCPTT’s
data and equipment more insulated from attacks and disasters. Early in FY 2006
the GIS server was upgraded to ArcView 9.1 in preparation for the hosting of a
GPS/GIS class conducted by NSU professors. The Cane River National Heritage
Area’s GIS database that is housed at NCPTT on the Center’s GIS server was the
focal point of the class.
TELNPS
The Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Network permits thousands of National
Park Service employees to receive competency-based training at or near their
work site at little or no cost. The Network will soon reach over 135 receiving
stations across the Service. The highly interactive training allows students
immediate access to their instructors and is a key component to the success of
the broad and varied training opportunities.
During FY2006, 22 classes were taken at NCPTT with 109 participants. Some of
those participating were staff from the Cane River Creole National Historical
Park and the Cane River National Heritage Area. The Center’s TELNPS system is
scheduled for an upgrade in equipment in early FY2007.
The installation of the TELNPS station at NCPTT has provided Center employees
and NPS employees from the surrounding area with the opportunity to gain high
quality training specific to their jobs at a convenient location. The Center is
excited to be a part of the NPS’s continued growth of interactive distance
learning activities.
NCPTT Library
The NCPTT Library operates as the Center’s research library, providing
references and resources for all center staff and researchers. Primary emphasis
is on preservation technology, rehabilitation, and the cultural disciplines
represented by the Center’s staff. Over the past two years the Center has made a
substantial commitment to increasing its holdings in these areas. In the past
six months approximately 50 books have been added to the Center’s collection.
NPS recently began a nationwide initiative to improve library services
throughout the system. This program establishes library management policies and
provides professional guidance and technical support to NPS libraries at all
levels. It also promotes the use of current technology and partnerships to
facilitate access to all information by and about the National Park Service. As
part of this initiative, NCPTT is upgrading its own library facilities,
completing a book catalog, creating a database of back issues of journals, and
continuing to expand the collection.
Corneal Imaging
Background
In 2004, Drs. Ko Noshino and Shree Nayar from the Department of Computer
Science at Columbia University presented a paper entitled The World in an Eye at
an the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. This paper
outlines the extraction of images from the reflections of the eyes of
photographic subjects to reveal what the subject is looking at. NCPTT contacted
Dr. Nayar and obtained a copy of the software used to perform image extraction
in order to apply this technology to historic photographs.
Image Selection
The Digital Imaging Laboratory at the Nebraska State Historical Society
maintains the Butcher Collection, an archive of plate glass negatives taken
between 1862 and 1912, and a very high resolution optical scanner. Dr. Nayar
suggested that photographs taken outdoors of subjects with dark eyes would yield
the best results. Several promising candidates were chosen from the online
archive of this collection and Sean Clifford visited the Imaging Laboratory in
Lincoln, Nebraska at the end of September 2006. Assistant Curator Dale Bacon
scanned the selected photographs at 3170 dpi (dots per inch) optical resolution
and provided additional 800 dpi resolution images he found of interest.
Results
None of the photographs selected yielded identifiable corneal reflections.
However, other photographs containing large reflective surfaces did yield
identifiable images. Most notable are a reflection in brass instruments in the
Kearney Marine Band studio portrait and reflections in the Columbia Model B "Eagle" recording device
captured in photographs taken outdoors. Conclusions and Further Research
Scanning at 3170 optical dpi does not seem to be of sufficient resolution to
extract identifiable reflections from the eyes of photographic subjects in six
by eight inch glass plate negatives. However, larger reflective surfaces in
images of this type seem the most likely to yield images of interest to
researchers.
Figure 1
– Kearney
Marine Band circa 1912. Though taken in a studio, this image contained several
promising reflections in musical instruments and the brims of caps.
Figure 2
– The
reflections in this band member’s eyes, the third from the left in the first row
in front of the child, seemed promising. Note the reflection of a window in the
brim of his hat.
Figure 3
-
Extraction of the corneal image from the left eye and subsequent histogram
processing did not yield an identifiable image. The right eye (not shown) did
not yield useful results.
Figure 4
– This
horn yields a reflection in which the back of a band member and details of the
room can be identified. Note the shelving on the wall and what appears to be a
cat in the window.
Figure 5
– A young
man in a family portrait at the end of the 19th
century.
Figure 6
– Results
of processing the left eye. No identifiable image was obtained.
Figure 7
– Native
American man speaking into a Columbia Model B "Eagle" recorder.
Figure 8
– Several
reflections can be seen in this image, scanned at 800 dpi (dots per inch)
including trees, buildings, and what appears to be four people. A 3170 dpi
resolution scan of this photograph has been requested.
NCPTT Web Site Overview
Web Site Statistics Since
April 1, 2006
The NCPTT web site has experienced
an increase in unique visitors and page over the last six months. Between April
1, 2006 and October 1, 2006, the site received 32,538 unique visitors, an increase
of 17%. Over the same period page views were 8,264,680, an increase of 215%.
Most Popular Pages (Excluding
Home Page)
- Product
Catalog, 415,139
- Hurricane Preservation
Technical Assistance, 248,308
- Contact
NCPTT & Staff Pages, 128,885
- Employment,
60,580
- About
NCPTT, 59,768
- Summer
Institute 2006: Architecture & Engineering, 45,974
- Publications,
44,080
- News,
43,829
- News
Archive, 43,370
- Architecture
& Engineering Program, 42,636
- Preservation
Technology & Training Grants Call for Proposals, 42,463
- Heritage
Education Program, 41,180
- Archeology
& Collections Program, 40,979
- Materials
Research Program, 40,465
- Historic
Landscapes Program, 40,083
Most Popular Print Products
Downloaded
- Historic
Landscape Resource Manual (2000-18) 6,191
- Testing
the Energy Performance of Wood Windows in Cold Climates (1996-08), 4,848
- A Manual
on Conservation Methodology for Historic Buildings and Structures (1997-07), 2,312
- Draft
Code for Historic Buildings (2001-01), 1,896
- Standard
Practice for Determining the Components of Historic Cementious Materials (2002-20),
2,312
Most Popular Video Products
Downloaded
Cemetery Monument Conservation
Promotional Video, 1,044
- Building
Dry Stone Retaining Walls (2002-06), 383
- Preserving
America’s Landscape (1996-02), 267
- Culture
Shock: Fire Protection for Historic and Cultural Property (1995-01), 258
- Walls
of Stone: How to Build Dry Stone Walls and Rock Fences (1996-01), 243
While visitors to the NCPTT
web site are increasing, these visitors are not exploring the site as deeply.
Redesign and Addition of
Content
A redesign of the NCPTT web
site has been undertaken in order to improve accessibility, navigation, and visibility
in various search engines. This redesign is expected to launch in October of 2006.
Additionally, we are in the process of converting all NCPTT print products into
HTML format, folding the current Heritage Education web site into this new design,
and will make all content available via RSS (real-time syndication) feeds.
The purpose of
this redesign is threefold: to dramatically increase the amount of content available
on the site, to make it easier for researchers to find information, and to serve
as an online reference. Our print products are already available in PDF format.
All video products have been converted into popular web formats and will shortly
be available for subscription via podcast.
With the launch of the redesigned
web site NCPTT will also change to a new web analytics package to provide more detailed
information about the impact of the NCPTT web site.
Figure 1 - New NCPTT home page design. The page has been redesigned
for more effective use of space. Tabs at the top divide major sections. The drop-down
menus have been removed and the news ticker has been moved to the left as a sticky
note.
Figure 2 - Current NCPTT home page design.
Figure 3 - New NCPTT page layout. Page navigation
appears on the left, the selected tab displays the current section, and a breadcrumb
trail at the top of the page title shows visitors where they are in the site.
NPS Content Management, Design, and Development Considerations
Recently the National Park Service has mandated that all NPS Parks will be brought
into a centralized content management system managed at NPS headquarters. This transition
was completed in August of 2006. In FY2007 all NPS Programs are slated to be brought
into this system. The purpose is to provide a unified design and content management
framework for all Parks and Programs within NPS.
Additional control will be exercised over the approval of new content placed on
all NPS web sites at the Assistant Associate Director level. The development of
new web applications will also require prior approval.
NCPTT believes that this level of oversight is neither necessary nor practical and
will adversely impact the dissemination of training and research products. Additionally,
a one-size-fits-all approach to web design and application development will adversely
impact flexibility, visibility, and hinder the use of new technologies.
These concerns have been voiced during the development of these new policies, NCPTT
is participating in the Cultural Resources Web Steering Committee, and alternatives
to inclusion in the content management system are being explored.