FIREWATCH Environmental and Social Impacts of Wildfire; digital publication and dissemenation of data via the global Internet Principal Investigator George Brett November 22, 1994 Submitted by Colorado Rocky Mountain School 1493 County Road 106 Carbondale, Colorado 81623 (303) 963Ð2562 FAX (303) 963Ð9865 email: judyfoxp@csn.org FIREWATCH TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROJECT DESCRIPTION PROJECT OBJECTIVES PRODUCTION TIMELINE REQUEST FOR FOR FUNDING ADDENDUM Colorado Rocky Mountain School Profile Curriculum Vitae Headmaster Statement Letters of Support National News Interest Samples FIREWATCH: Environmental and Social Impacts of Wild Fire; digital publication and dissemenation of data via the global Internet EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Students at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School will use the Storm King Mountain Fire of July 1994 near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to study the environmental and human effects of wildfire. On site investigation of biotic and geologic processes, and personal interviews with those directly effected by the fire will be included. A multimedia lab will be the center for compiling information gathered on site using a video camcorder and digital camera. Scientific documentation, firstÐperson accounts of fire experiences, and online discussions will be integrated into the project. Internet bulletin boards will be used for discussion and gathering related information. Students at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School will be the primary investigators with input and information exchange from other local schools. The final project will be disseminated via the global Internet. In addition to being a digital publication for Earth Day '95, Project FIREWATCH will document the steps to produce this project to provide other schools with a format for the creation of similar projects. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Devastating wild fires occured across the western United States during the summer of 1994. We propose that information technologies such as computers, data networks, digital photography, and desktop video conferencing can be used to better document and understand the impact of these fires, or similar disasters, on the environment and on communities situated nearby the fire site. The project is titled, "FIREWATCH: Environmental and Social Impacts of Wildfire; digital publication and dissemination of data via the global Internet." The process of producing a collection of information about an event will benefit diverse groups. High school students and faculty, as information providers, will learn how to use a current technology in addition to learning more details of the fire and its impact. These skills can be transferred to other schools via school networks, seminars, and published papers. This process will provide a training opportunity for life long skills. Students, as users of the information in Colorado and around the world, will be able to use the scientific data and social information for their learning. Because Colorado is one of the more progressive states on the national information highway, local communities will be able to access and use information published digitally. Members of the global Internet at geographically diverse locations will be able to access this information. The FIREWATCH project will produce a series of digital publications that will be disseminated via the global Internet. These publications will include, but not be limited to: scientific data with supporting multimedia materials, firstÐperson accounts of the fire, results of onÐline discussions, and interactive multimedia information. The emphasis of this project will be two part. One part will be on the science of the environment such as the effects of fires on water quality, revegetation, soil stabilization, watershed, wildlife, and other environmental consequences. A second wiil be on the human impacts of the fire such as experiences of nearby residents, fire fighters and agents of the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, community emergency response teams, volunteer service groups, and those experiencing the secondary effects of the fire. Multimedia such as digital photography and digital videography enable more direct experience of scientific and cultural information. It will be powerful for the electronic reader to read the text of a report with tables of scientific data about watershed and water quality, and to view photographs, listen to and watch a brief video clip about mud slides or similar events. Another example are first person accounts with the person being interviewed speaking to the camera. All this is possible with offÐtheÐshelf technology that can be operated by students. The Colorado Rocky Mountain School has been teaching environmental and social research since it was founded in 1953. Not only are these skills presented in the educational curriculum, but they are practiced in the afternoon active curriculum. Afternoon work crews, such as radio, newspaper, and yearbook crews would be integrated into the FIREWATCH project. In particular the Riverwatch program, a water quality program sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, will integrate the Firewatch project into their curriculum. A specific work crew working with technical support from faculty and a computer specialist would assemble the data gathered on site and on line into digital form for dessimination via the Internet. PROJECT OBJECTIVES The FIREWATCH project is designed to be an educational and informational approach to publishing interesting and useful data for a large audience. The wildfires of the west and subsequent death of fourteen fire fighters in Glenwood Canyon riveted the world with a story that could happen anywhere, a personal story. The natural environment was drastically changed and so was the community of the Roaring Fork Valley. The publications that result from data collection and interviews by the students and faculty of Colorado Rocky Mountain School will initiate a digital archive that is dynamic. Because of the interactive nature of Internet communication, the work of the school can be built upon by others who share the Internet realm. Many students already utilize the Internet from all over the world. The project would be an extension of Colorado Rocky Mountain School's philosophy of diversity and outÐreach as reflected in its international exchange program and the Native American exchange program. A number of further objectives can be achieved as the project gathers momentum: Ð the project will provide a vehicle to teach new technology and information skills to students and faculty, Ð the project will create a model to document other events impacting both the environment and the human community, Ð the project as a model will be offered to other schools and organizations so that it can be replicated more efficiently in other communities, Ð the project will utilize an event that happened locally as a classroom teaching opportunity, Ð the continuation of the project will be offered as a summer program within the Colorado Rocky Mountain School Summer School, Ð the project will be an on going project documenting the effects of the fire on the environment, community, and society as reflected in the Internet, Ð the project can have the effect of joining students and faculty from the valley schools in a cooperative project, and Ð the projcet will join school, students, and other users of Internet globally in problem solving via Internet. PRODUCTION The FIREWATCH project will progress from data collection, to collation, to editing, to publication. Define scope Phase one will be to access potential resources, design on site investigations, and outline personal interviews. Research of the Storm King fire will provide background for both environmental and social investigations. Collect information and data Collection of data and information such as from interviews, other publications, and records will constitute phase two. Work crews consisting of a faculty member and form three to five students will spend between four and six hours of scheduled time per week in this area. During phase two, rough draft documents and video can be initiated. Rough drafts, data collation and evaluation will be completed in this phase. Editing Final copy and final video documentation will be reviewed and prepared for publication. This phase will occur during an intensive six day period March 12 through March 18, 1995, called Interim week. Publication The final document consisting of digital video, photographic, written text, and audio will be transmitted via an Internet application such as World Wide Web on Earth Day 1995. Continuation Begin the cycle to review, update, and add new materials based especially on feed back from Internet users. TIMELINE The FIREWATCH project will take shape in the winter and spring of 1995. A target delivery date for first publication is April 1995 to coincide with Earth Day 1995. This will be the 25th anniversary of Earth Day. Various federal agencies are planning events and projects to showcase information technologies and the information highway. This project is a strong candidate to be such a showcase. It is intended that the project would continue over time to provide the community with an extended view of the scientific data and associated anecdotal information. Field work on the project will begin January 4th. Student groups will use their afternoon periods to travel to the fire site and gather information, perform on site experiments, and interview people in the surrounding community. On site investigations and research will continue through March 10th. The week of March 12th through 18th, Interim, is a time at CRMS for students to to do intensive group projects. The FIREWATCH project will be assisted this week by the principal investigator, George Brett, to assemble all scientific and social data into a format for presentation via the global Internet for Earth Day 1995. Timeline: Sept 16, 1994 First conception Oct 5, 1994 Initial proposal meeting Oct 20, 1994 George Brett demo of equipment Oct 21, 1994 George Brett outline of proposal Nov 24, 1994 Proposal Deadline Grant Applications Jan 1995 Purchase and Delivery of Equipment Jan 1995 Students Collect Information Feb 1995 " " " " " " March 1995 " " " " " " March 12 to 18 Interim Group prepares project in presentation format April 1995 Present Project Ð Earth Day 1995 June 1995 Present Model on the Project Ongoing Continuation of Research Summer Course in Data Collection & Dissemination via Internet REQUEST FOR FUNDING This application is for funds to purchase computer hardware, computer software, production equipment, reproduction equipment, and hire the services of specialists to aid in setÐup and production of the FIREWATCH project. Colorado Rocky Mountain School, the applicant, will provide the facilities to house the equipment and production environment. The applicant will also provide all labor associated with data collection, interviews, writing, editing, filming, recording, compiling, and directing. Both the students and faculty of the school will be engaged in accomplishing the production. ITEMIZED REQUEST I. Equipment Five computers are needed to allow interactive construction of the Internet publication. On of the computers will have greater capacities in terms of RAM, storage, and monitor, and will serve as the primary production site. The four other computers will be networked to each other and the primary computer. Software will include commercial packages for photography, scanning, desk top publishing, office tasks, and networking. Reproduction equipment will consist of CDÐROM mastering equipment. Description Cost 1 each computer (primary) Ð Mac, Power PC 32 MB RAM 500 MB Hard Drive CDÐROM $5,000 4 each computer (networked) Ð Mac, Quadra 630 12 MB RAM 250 Hard Drive $10,000 Storage 1.5 GB Removable $2,000 Monitor Ð 21" color $2,000 Video Ð Cam Corder $1,200 Ð Quicktake (stills) $ 800 Ð Scanners Ð 35mm slides $2,000 Ð Flat B&W or color $1,500 Ð Video Projector $8,000 Software $5,000 CDÐROM Mastering equipment $5,000 Network materials $2,000 II. Outside Specialists To enhance a rapid and efficient startÐup, a hardware specialist will be hired to design and implement the network, help purchase equipment, and aid with the installation of the software. Description Cost Hardware Specialist Ð 20 hours @ $100/hr $2,000 III. Technical Director To instruct and facilitate the faculty and students who are undertaking this project a temporary Technical Director will be hired. (resume attached) Description Cost Technical Director Ð 280 hrs @ $60/hr $16,800 (20 hrs/wk x 14wks) IV. Program Director A Colorado Rocky Mountain School extended faculty position to coordinate equipment, specialists, technical director, research, preparation, and production of the project. Description Cost Program Director Ð 210 hrs @ $20/hr $4,200 (15 hrs/wk x 14 wks) V. Connection to Global Internet The connection to the Global Internet will be via Colorado SuperNet with a SLIP connection. Description Cost SLIP connection Ð setup $40 Ð connection costs; $3/hour, max $250/mo $1,040 Phone Service Installation, wiring $ 300 Connection charges Ð 4 mo @ $100 $ 400 VI. Administrative Support This funding will cover the cost of secretarial services, office time, maintainance support, and long distance phone time. Description Cost Administrative Support $2,000 VII. Earth Day Presentation To cover the expenses of sending one faculty and one student to the Earth Day 1995 summit conference. Description Cost Conference Expenses $3,000 VIII. Travel Travel expenses for principal investigator George Brett to travel to Carbondale, Colorado to facilitate final presentation of the project and travel for field work. Description Cost Travel Expenses $1,000 TOTAL REQUEST FOR FUNDING $75,240