Curtin University

Eine spezielle Kamera bietet einzigartige Blicke in die Unterwasserwelt Australien's. "PierCam to showcase Exmouth under the sea."

Curtin University of Technology has today launched a state-of-the-art underwater camera at the end of the Exmouth Navy Pier.

LiveView from underwater camera [Piercam] at Exmouth Navy Pier

Entitled PierCam, the camera will be able to send live images of Exmouth's diverse aquatic environment around the world via the Internet, providing applications to the education, tourism and fishing industries.

Head of Curtin's Department of Applied Biosciences Dr Glen Whisson said that PierCam was developed as part of a flexible teaching initiative.

However, it was expected to generate interest from across the globe.

"Students at Curtin, scientists from around the country, and indeed all over the world, will now have the chance to see some of the amazing underwater scenery at Exmouth from their personal computer" he said.

The Exmouth Navy Pier is recognised as one of the world's best shore backed dives and the PierCam will also provide local dive and tour operators and individuals real time access to check the conditions at the end of the Pier from remote sites, rather than having to physically be there."

PierCam will provide streaming images to the Curtin Aquatic Research Laboratories in Perth for use in ecological studies, fish identification and fish behaviour research.

"Observing natural ecosystems previously involved travelling to the location, representing significant time and cost commitments," he said.

"This is a tremendous advantage for our students, who will now be able to view images from Exmouth alongside those from observation tanks housed within the laboratories."

Dr Whisson said the project had been well supported by Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt, Shire of Exmouth, Exmouth Visitors' Centre and local businesses.

"The underwater biodiversity at the Exmouth Navy Pier is truly remarkable and PierCam will open up this ecosystem to many more people than ever before," he said.

"We hope these images will boost tourism initiatives in the region in future years."

Resource: http://muresk.curtin.edu.au/campus/bentley/piercam.html