Visitors at Carlsbad Caverns National Park may notice during the next few months an occasional National Park Service Ranger carrying around a curious yellow case, tripod, and technical caving gear. Rangers at the Park are currently photographing caves closed to the public in a special 360 degree format. The special photographs will allow visitors to have a 360 degree visual experience of the caves via a multimedia program called 360 Degrees of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Recently trained by Four Chambers Studio, the Rangers have embraced a new photography technique and collaobrative project. The process goes as follows...the Rangers traverse the cavern to reach sites closed to the public such as the Guadalupe Room and the Bell Cord Room. They then assemble the high-tech equipment and shoot a series of photographs while standing in a single spot within the cave. They then send the photographs, 38 for each location, to Four Chambers Studio, where a team of digital artists assemble the phtoographs into complete 360 degree panoramic photographs. The photographs are then added to the existing interpretive computer program, 360 Degrees of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Coming full circle, the new version of the program then returns to the park where Interpretive Rangers use the program to provide "virtual tours" to visitors.

The virtual tour computer program provides an alternative to seeing the cave in person when needed. For areas that are closed to the public or for visitors are physically unable to visit the caverns, the computer program provides a unique way to experience the caves.

There is a new development at the Mesa Verde National Park this year. In early fall each year, the majority of Mesa Verde National Park is closed down for the winter months. The only dwelling open to the public during the winter is the Spruce Tree House, which can be accessed by a short trail near the Mesa Verde Museum.This year, however, visitors have an alternative which allows them to "virtually" visit nearly all of the sites that are normally open during the rest of the year.

This "virtual tour" is a computer program which allows visitors and rangers to view the cliff dwellings in 360 degree interactive format. Installed on a large- screen plasma display, the program is interactive and provides a way for visitors to control a virtual camera at over 35 locations inside the Park. If a visitor wants to see the back alcoves of Cliff Palace, normally closed to the public altogether, all it takes is a click or two to get there. The visitor can then pan the virtual camera up to see the solid rock ceiling, or zoom into the floor to discover ancient artifacts, or click on interpretive text to learn more about the features at that location.

Installed in the Museum, the virtual tour exhibit is a relatively new addition, but is not without precedent. In June 2004, a pilot program installed at the Far View visitor center provided a way to gauge the effectiveness and response to such a program. The program received high marks from visitors right from the start. The NPS has since installed two permanent plasma screen displays, one at the Far View Visitor Center(open only during the summer) and one at the Museum, which is open year-round. The display now serves as an alternative intrepretive tool for the park, which supports more than 400,000 visitors per year.

"As a computer specialist for Mesa Verde National Park, I was surprised the park did not have more hands-on or interactive programs for visitors when I joined the park in 2001. Most of the exhibits contain historical artifacts behind glass, which is great for displaying items to our visitors. The technology era we now live in supports so much more for people to see and do when they vacation. The 360 degree exhibit Gene Cooper installed at the Far View Visitor Center assists Mesa Verde National Park to provide an interactive medium for presenting important cultural resources of the park to our visitors. Especially to people who may not be able to attend live tours in the cliff dwellings. The 360 degree virtual tour application can take them there and provide essential interpretive information about cultural resources of the park. In my opinion, the virtual tours are a great way to expand our visitation to Mesa Verde."

-Flint Boardman
Mesa Verde National Park

National Park Service Rangers at Montezuma Castle National Monument have a new item in their interpretive toolbox. Now, when visitors approach the desk asking if there is any way they can see the interior of the Castle, the Rangers at the front desk can say, "Yes!" This is because of a new interactive multimedia tour program presented on a large plasma screen display in the Visitor Center.

The virtual tour program provides a 360 degree visual experience of the park's most well known cliff dwelling, Montezuma Castle. Both Rangers and visitors can use the program to explore the interior rooms of the ancient dwelling which has been closed to the public since the 1930s. With a few clicks, the ranger can pan the virtual camera around to show key features of the Castle, or zoom in to show artifacts that are still on the floor, or point the camera straight up, revealing the original roof structure. These informally conducted tours reveal how rangers have begun to use new technology to provide access and interpretation of key sites to the public.

Each year, over 1 million people visit Montezuma Castle National Monument. The dwelling itself was closed to the public in the 1930s in order to protect and conserve the fragile structure. The ranger-led virtual tour is a great way to see the dwelling, and the magnificent view that is afforded from being up in the cliff dwelling. In addition,, the virtual tour is free at the Visitor Center, is handicapped accessible, and the delicate strucuture of the Castle remains preserved..

The NPS at Grand Canyon National Park released new regulations this year regarding permits and access to the Colorado River within Grand Canyon National Park. The new regulations address and redefine important convservation, safety, and access concerns. The changes affect the number of permits offered to both commercial and private excursions, and address both safety and environmental concerns.

The regulations are important to visitors. Every year, thousands of visitors raft down the Colorado River, traveling over 200 miles through the Grand Canyon. Typically, visitors explore the Canyon via both private and commercial trips through a range of methods, including motorized rafts, non-motorized rafts, dories, and kayaks. The difficul- to-access stretches of the Colorado River are remote, and require not only special equipment, but a high degree of knoweldge and expertise to safely navigate the waters.

Learn More about the New Regulations at the NPS website:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/