National Park Service/Olympus Webcamera Partnership
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. 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 incredible 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. Olympus funding is being used to maintain the current Air Quality Web Camera network. Olympus also provided funding to upgrade all 16 digital camera sites. The upgrades 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.