Cellular Connectivity in Acadia National Park

The WPI team will identify where cellular connectivity exists in the park and the degree of reliability. The objective is to develop a heat map of Acadia National Park connectivity. As part of the investigation, the team will install webcams and associated software in areas where connectivity exists. The team will conduct benchmark technical tests and elaborate on the feasibility of using webcams at various locations in the park and the suitability of incorporating webcams for traffic monitoring, parking lot monitoring, and general visitor congestion monitoring.

The team will also explore alternative approaches to connectivity and monitoring solutions that don’t use cellular connectivity, such as Low-Power Wide-Area Networks. LPWANs operate on lower frequencies than cellular, which means the data packets are smaller, they can travel further, and the devices that use this technology can last for years or decades on an AA battery.

The project will culminate with a cost benefit analysis of various connectivity strategies and realities. In addition, the WPI team is creating a prospectus of how Acadia National Park could anticipate and navigate connectivity changes, technology developments, and general data communication issues in the park over the next 10-years.