Synopsis of Recent LIVE Demonstrations at Science and Education Sites Throughout the United States
Kimberly Mann Bruch, Evan Locke, Kevin Schallert, and Susan Teel

In an effort to identify sites which have limited or non-existent Internet connectivity and which have unique or rare resources to share with students via Live Interactive Virtual Explorations (LIVE) distance education programs, Sea to Shining Sea (StSS) staff have met with National Park Service staff at various parks to provide an overview of the StSS project and introduce them to the equipment needed to support distance education in remote and hard to reach field locations. Kimberly Mann Bruch and Susan Teel have focused on describing how low cost equipment may be used as a research and educational tool, and emphasized its value to increase public interest. HPWREN assisted with the set-up of temporary wireless bubbles near office locations and where possible demonstrations of the LIVE backpack system from each site.

Present:
Kimberly Mann Bruch – University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Rick Toomey – Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning
Shannon Trimboli – Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning
Cheryl Messenger – Mammoth Cave National Park
Matt Arnold –Mammoth Cave National Park

Present via LIVE:
Hans-Werner Braun – UCSD

Summary:
Those present for the meeting received applicable handouts. Kim Bruch reviewed the history and current status of StSS LIVE with the group and then provided a brief training regarding the backpack system.

We walked from the superintendent conference room to the seasonal housing area wireless bubble to conduct a demonstration of the backpack system. The test allowed us to talk with Hans-Werner Braun via the backpack system (using Skype).

As long as we were within the wireless bubble near the housing, the experiment proved successful. Venturing into the woods behind the housing area was too far away from the access point.

In addition to the backpack system test, we also brainstormed possible collaboratory activities – including a demonstration of the system at use within Mammoth Cave during the upcoming George Wright Conference workshop (March 2).

We made plans to test the DSL connections within the cave on January 30 and/or February 13.

Photos:

While connected via the Internet (Skype) with Hans-Werner Braun in southern California, the Mammoth Cave team of Cheryl Messenger, Rick Toomey, Shannon Trimboli, and Matt Arnold experiment with the LIVE backpack system.

Rick Toomey and Shannon Trimboli venture into the forest with the backpack system.

Exploring the caves via LIVE technology would allow an array of people to better understand this important part of our natural world.

Sea to Shining Sea LIVE - Big Cypress National Preserve
January 7, 2009

Present:
Susan Teel – California Mediterranean Research Learning Center National Park Service
Bob DeGross – Big Cypress National Preserve Chief of Interpretation
Lisa Andrews – Big Cypress National Preserve Education
David Hamm – Big Cypress National Preserve Information Technology
Frank Partridge – Big Cypress National Preserve Interpretation
Ehren - Big Cypress National Preserve Interpretation

Summary:
On January 7, 2009 California Mediterranean Research Learning Center (CMRLC) Director, Susan Teel, gave a presentation to key staff at Big Cypress National Preserve to introduce the National Park Service Research Learning Centers and the CMRLC. The presentation also provided an overview of the history and current status of the wireless system and distance education project at Cabrillo National Monument and the Sea to Shining Sea Project.

The group brainstormed possibilities for LIVE broadcast programs and webcameras at Big Cypress National Preserve. Folks were excited about the possibility of a gator cam. We also tossed around the idea of deploying South Broward’s student built Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an alligator hole or in the small water body in front of Oasis visitor center. The potential for interactions between the alligators and the ROV are high, with great chance of damage to the equipment. A Big Cypress site of interest and used for web cameras include visitor use monitoring at the Turner River canoe launch and buggy trails. Distance Education program sites would most likely by at the Environmental Education Center or other sites remotely located in the Preserve. Most if these sites would require solar power. . There were several suggestions about implementing something at the headquarters location to see if there is interest and support for a more elaborate system. All agreed that it would be valuable to try a web camera and LIVE distance education site in a limited fashion without incurring significant expense to the park

Photos:

Alligators thermoregulating in front of the Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis Visitor Center.

Great Blue Herron

Sea to Shining Sea LIVE – Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
January 13, 2009

Present:
Cindy Fury – Fish and Wildlife Service A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR
Gayle Martin – Fish and Wildlife Service A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR
Keith Boliek - Fish and Wildlife Service A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR
Christy Coghlan – Fish and Wildlife Service Vero Beach Field Office
Donatto Surratt – National Park Service Everglades Program Team – LOX
Evan Locke – National Park Service California Mediterranean Research Learning Center
Kevin Schallert – National Park Service California Mediterranean Research Learning Center
Susan Teel – National Park Service California Mediterranean Research Learning Center

Present via LIVE:
Hans-Werner Braun – HPWREN -UCSD

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the northern most area of the remaining Florida Everglades. The interior of the refuge is only accessible by airboat and public access to this amazing location is quite restricted. On January 13, 2009, Susan Teel and CMRLC interns Kevin Schallert and Evan Locke met with National Park Service (NPS) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) staff at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Refuge to deliver a power point presentation. Susan introduced the CMRLC and the Sea to Shinning Sea LIVE project and discussed the use of wireless equipment to support research and education and emphasized its value to increase public interest in natural areas they are not able to physically visit. She showed examples of how the technology is currently being utilized in Cabrillo National Monument and addressed questions on the financial and technological limitations of such equipment.

Loxahatchee NWR managers are most interested in deployment of a temporary and mobile web camera system to seasonally monitor Everglade snail kite and predatory bird nesting. The Everglades Program Team (NPS) are most interested in using real-time visuals to monitor activity at structures and water levels.

Photos:

Senior FWS Biologist, Cindy Fury, took a turn with the camcorder and led the group to spot behind the visitor center where we viewed a small alligator camouflaged in duck weed.

FWS staffer, Keith Boliek, donned the LIVE backpack and conducted an impromptu tour along the boardwalk which navigates through the swamp habitat and fielded questions from Hans-Werner who viewed local species such as alligators, cypress trees, air plants, and lichens. This above image is a screen shot of what Hans-Werner was viewing on his end in southern California.

Donatto Surratt, National Park Service -Everglades Program Team, set up a temporary wireless access point in back of the Loxahatchee visitor center. A LIVE field test was conducted along the boardwalk and broadcast to Hans-Werner Braun in California.

These above two images are screen shots of Hans-Werner's view in southern California.

FWS Biologist Gayle Martin is all smiles for the LIVE activity.

Interns Kevin Schallert and Evan Locke then accompanied Gayle Martin, FWS Biologist, on an air boat through the swamp to photograph equipment in the interior of the refuge which could potentially be used to implement wireless connection for web cameras and additional environmental sensors. Approximately five miles away from the refuge head quarters a 50 foot tower and solar powered weather station were photographed.

Kevin Schallert (2.0 meters tall) is standing in the foreground for size comparison. The estimated height of the larger tower is at least 50 feet. The depth of the water bellow the tower, at this time in the dry season, was estimated to be about two feet.

Weather station in the Everglades sawgrass marsh of A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Sea to Shining Sea LIVE – Broward County School District
January 14, 2009

Present:
Ted Davis – Marine Magnet Program South Broward High School
Ed Kessler – Broward County Public Schools Education Technology Services
Maurice ________- Broward County Schools Education Technology Services
Evan Locke – National Park Service CMRLC
Kevin Schallert – National Park Service CMRLC
Susan Teel – National Park Service CMRLC

CMRLC Director Susan Teel and interns Evan Locke and Kevin Schallert met with Ed Kessler, Systems Analyst and Ted Davis, director of the Marine Magnet School at South Broward High School and the Broward County School District's network and communication specialists at the Broward High School District Headquarters. During the meeting, the group explored innovative options for using a mobile satellite Internet system for distance education programming. The Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) command center is normally used as a command and communications center during disasters such as hurricanes, storms, and floods which frequently occur in South Florida.

Ideas shared included having the South Broward Magnet High School students build a semi-disposable ROV(nobody will be too upset if an alligator smashes it), which could be used in the Sea to Shining Sea LIVE format to explore alligator habitat and behavior underwater. The popular idea of putting the ROV in a “gator hole”, an area in the deepest part of the swamp that the alligators dig out to provide year round water and refugia for fish, was wrestled with the group for some time. The group found that the semi-disposable ROV would be perfect because the group was unsure at the reaction of the alligators to the ROV, and the opportunity to use a ROV that the students build give them invaluable field experience beyond the science they would learn while participating in LIVE programs.

The Broward County School’s mobile satellite Internet system fits on a trailer and uses service that costs approx $1000 per hour and is sold in five hour blocks. The Broward School District is currently in talks with the commercial satellite provider in an effort to have a five hour block donated to the school for education purposes and to test the ROV in a "gator hole" application. The Broward School District is excited at the opportunity to work with the partnership and has many resources to bring to the table including trained technical and network staff to assist in the development of programs.

Photos:


Broward County School’s Mobile Command Vehicle and MCV traveling satellite distance education system.

Sea to Shining Sea LIVE – Dry Tortugas National Park
January 15, 16, and 17, 2009

Present:
Christopher Ziegler – Dry Tortugas National Park
Evan Locke – National Park Service CMRLC
Kevin Schallert – National Park Service CMRLC
Susan Teel – National Park Service CMRLC

Present via LIVE:
Hans-Werner Braun – HPWREN -UCSD

Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) is located 70 miles from Key West and is an ideal location for Sea to Shining Sea LIVE programs. Seldom does this location ever host groups of students or field trips. The park boasts a historic military installation, rich diversity of marine organisms, colorful coral reefs and is the sole nesting grounds for several sea bird species.

On 15 January 2009, CMRLC Director Susan Teel and interns Kevin Schallert and Evan Locke visited the Dry Tortugas National Park and gave a power point presentation to park ranger Chris Ziegler about Sea to Shining Sea. The group then learned that the site has a commercial Internet connection and spoke about the possibilities of Dry Tortugas staff hosting LIVE programs from the site. Ideas discussed were: sending wireless connection to Logger Head Key (3.5 miles away) for programs, presenting the island and the fortifications program to students using the LIVE backpack, using a National Park Service ROV and possibly one designed by the students of South Broward Magnate High School to show audiences the moat and the coral reef, and installing web cams in various areas around the island including the boat dock to capture glimpses of auto, a huge goliath groups which hangs around nearby, and the view of Loggerhead Key. Dry Tortugas National Park staff are interested in attending the spring/summer LIVE training session at Biscayne National Park.

Due to high winds on January 16, the boats did not come out to the island to return our party to Key West. We took advantage of this time and worked with Ranger Chris Ziegler to find a camcorder and partially assemble a LIVE system, minus a headset. On January 17, 2009, we successfully completed a LIVE demonstration for park staff which highlighted the ease of use and high degree of mobility the LIVE backpack system allows. Hans-Werner Braun, at HPWREN headquarters in California participated in a brief tour of Fort Jefferson without the use of audio. Text and the chat feature were used for communication to Hans-Werner and audio from California was broadcast to Florida through the laptop speakers. Using the wireless system currently in place, a LIVE broadcast from several areas on the parade ground and inside the fort were successful. Hans-Werner Braun suggested options and improvements that would enhance and extend wireless connectivity to more of the fort, the outside of the fort and to Loggerhead Key.

Photos:
This series of images are screen shots captured by Hans-Werner Braun during the LIVE demonstration from Dry Tortugas National Park. Ranger Chris Ziegler give the Sea to Shining Sea staff a tour of Fort Jefferson. Chris talked about the history of the fort, the masonry, and armaments. The parade grounds inside the fort. View of Loggerhead Key approximately three miles from the fort. The Sea to Shining Sea staff and Ranger Chris.

Big Cypress National Preserve Monument Lake
January 18, 2009

Present:
Evan Locke – National Park Service CMRLC
Kevin Schallert – National Park Service CMRLC
Susan Teel – National Park Service CMRLC
Cindy Teel – Bayside Lakes Elementary School

Present via LIVE:
Hans-Werner and Monika Braun – HPWREN –UCSD

Summary:
CMRLC Director Susan Teel and interns Evan Locke and Kevin Schallert conducted an impromptu LIVE session near Monument Lake Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve. Using an air card in the laptop, a connection was established by pointing the air card at a cell phone tower located just across the lake. Although the quality of the audio and video were diminished using the air card, Hans-Werner and Monika Braun were able to view LIVE images of the saw grass and other local plants. The group walked through a saw grass marsh, explored a cypress dome, and trekked through a pine forest behind the campsite. Both the pine trees and the cypress trees are conifers, however the cypress tress are deciduous and bare of needles this time of year. The group entered a cypress dome and explained to Hans-Werner and Monika how the taller cypress trees which thrive near the center of the dome, an indication of deeper water, while the pines grow in areas only inches higher in elevation, but considerably less water. Hans-Werner took numerous screen captures and the LIVE session was a success.

Photos:
This series of images are screen shots captured by Hans-Werner and Monika Braun during the LIVE demonstration from Monument Lake Big Cypress National Preserve. We were able to explore a cypress dome, sawgrass marsh, and pine forest near the campground.

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