Scottish researchers are leading an international project to preserve areas of cultural or environmental significance such as the mythological home of the Greek gods.
Mount Olympus is one of the sites earmarked for a conservation project that will encourage members of the public to document environmental changes using personal cameras and smartphones.
Edinburgh University researchers will develop mobile apps to help tourists observe wildlife populations, plant species and rising water levels in special "biosphere reserves" identified by world conservation body Unesco.
The scheme, named The Cobweb Project, will encourage input from visitors to Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Greece, which ancient societies believed was the home of their gods, as well as sites in Greece, Germany and the Dyfi valley in Mid Wales.
The project is supported by a consortium of 13 partners from five European countries: UK, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Ireland. Cobweb Project coordinator Chris Higgins, of Edinburgh University's Edina national data centre, said: "Biosphere reserves are beautiful areas with people living in them who want to keep them that way. Using smartphone technology to get people more involved in decision-making is a hot research area.
"Empowering people and improving information flow is vital to addressing environmental issues."
Funding for the project comes from the EU's FP 7 Programme, which is designed to respond to Europe's employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life.
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