Drones and Apps Meet Nature: How the National Parks Service Uses Tech

Spencer Chin

With the summer quickly coming to an end, thousands of visitors will be descending upon some of the United States’ most valuable jewelsꟷthe vast network of national parks with their breathtaking scenery and diverse collection of plants, birds, and wildlife. Many of us view the national parks to disconnect from the everyday world of smartphones and computers and reconnect with nature.

The National Parks Service (NPS) is entrusted with the mission of preserving this rich collection of natural wonders while looking for ways to improve the visitor experience. The organization has turned to some of the same technology in our everyday lives to help carry out those tasks. These include webcams to show various park locations, drones, and satellites to monitor geologic trends and events, and data APIs that enable developers to use NPS data in their projects. And, not surprisingly, there is a National Park Services app that enables visitors to get up-to-date information on the parks they wish to visit.

Some examples of NPS technology at work follow in the gallery.

Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News covering the electronics beat. He has many years of experience covering developments in components, semiconductors, subsystems, power, and other facets of electronics from both a business/supply-chain and technology perspective. He can be reached at [email protected].

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