​Meet RTWOS

She has been providing summer wave and winter ice conditions in the sea caves since 2012.  Her full name is Real Time Waves Observation System. RTWOS was conceived by Dr. Chin Wu at UW–Madison, an expert in dangerous waves and tracking conditions along shorelines. Kayakers, outfitters and ice cavers can pull up her hour-by-hour information at http://www.wavesatseacaves.cee.wisc.edu and PLAY IT SAFE.

Many of our supporters are paddlers and ice walkers. A reported 20,000 paddlers visit the caves in the warm months and in the winter, up to 138,000. We feel it is within our mission to help visitors safely experience the wonder and adventure of this national park. Since RTWOS, none have been lost to Lake Superior’s cold water.

“Friends” recently gave $8000 to UW to help secure a $26,000 grant from Wisconsin Coastal Management to update and improve RTWOS to ARTSIS (Autonomous Real Time Stereo Imaging System.) The proposed improvements to the system will ensure long-term, uninterrupted service, year-round, and a much better picture of the actual wave and ice conditions.

RTWOS and ARTSIS use cameras and sensors to monitor and measure the quality of the waves present around the sea caves, which are often very different from the park’s public access point. On average, 96,000 people use the website per year. Park staff consider the system one of their most important educational and safety tools. RTWOS was so effective that the park won the U.S. Department of Interior Safety Award.

“The project would not have been possible without collaboration between UW–Madison, WI Coastal Management, the National Park Service and “Friends.” Read more about it on UW’s Boundless Together Campaign.

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