FW: [Geysers] webcam

[Freund, Udo]

Tom took the time to correct a few of my apparently incorrect
assumptions.  FYI.

As for trees in the viewscape I'd prefer to cut them down.  I'd also
include all those in front of the Inn that block the view of the basin.
They weren't there until fairly recently and are certainly not
endangered species.  If trees can be removed to construct cell towers
and other infrastructure, they should be cut to improve or restore
views.

Thanks,
Udo Freund

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom_Cawley at nps.gov [mailto:Tom_Cawley at nps.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:03 AM
To: Freund, Udo
Subject: RE: [Geysers] webcam

Hi Udo,

Here are a couple more bits of info that you may want to include when
answering questions like this.

1. The live streaming webcam is a Canon NU700 camera with a built in
wiper.
That wiper does not remove dried on dirt. I put in a requisition for a
scrubber on a telespoping 24' long pole. That should allow us to wet and
scrub the dried dirt (or silica deposits) and then we can hopefully
clean them off with the wiper. We're definitely looking at ways to make
the lens cleaning operation more reasonable and less hazardous.

2. We will not be able to get a view of both Old Faithful and Geyser
Hill from the new visitor center. There are trees in the way. So we will
be moving the cameras to a pole in front of the trees, in front of the
visitor center. It will not need to be as high which will make glass
cleaning easier. That location is also much farther from Old Faithful,
resulting in a lessening the silica deposit problem.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions like this.

Cheers,

Tom