cobweb smart technology = smart data? citizen science in the dyfi biosphere reserve
TRANSCRIPT
COBWEB
Smart Technology = Smart Data?Citizen Science in the Dyfi Biosphere Reserve
Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran7th March 2015
Crona [email protected]
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Overview
• COBWEB in a nutshell• Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science• Recap and questions
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• The app and COBWEB infrastructure• Co-Design Projects in Dyfi BR• Looking ahead
Introduction to COBWEB
• Project started November 2012 and runs for 4 years (over half way now)
• Research Project: Funded under the European Commission’s Framework Programme 7 (Grant No: 308513)
• Citizen Observatories Project
• Why?
– Environmental monitoring is expensive– Can citizen science fill the void?
Introduction to COBWEB
Introduction to COBWEB
In a nutshell (or two) the project…
…is about developing an
infrastructure for supporting crowdsourced environmental data collection using smart technology.
Introduction to COBWEB
In a nutshell (or two) the…
…data collected will be used for decision-making and policy development. The infrastructure includes
data quality components, security components, data conflation services.
Introduction to COBWEB
In a nutshell (or two) the project…
…will make data searchable and available for reuse via GEOSS - the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
Introduction to COBWEB
What it is NOT…
…a data repository or storage system
….just simply a mobile app
…or an ‘off the shelf’ solution
Introduction to COBWEB
• GEOSS - the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
– COBWEB is obliged to publish data through GEOSS
“…GEOSS connects users to existing data bases and portals and provides reliable, up-to-date and user friendly information – vital for the work of decision makers, planners and emergency managers.”
– Managed and administered by GEO (Group on Earth Observations)
Introduction to COBWEB
• UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)– Biosphere Reserves are UNESCO
designations focussed on sustainable development with strong links between community and the environment.
Introduction to COBWEB
www.biosfferdyfi.org.uk
Introduction to COBWEB
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Introduction to COBWEB – Three Environmental Themes
© iStockphoto (2015)
• Flooding
• Biological Monitoring
• Validating EO products
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science – the opportunities
• Citizens as ‘sensors’• Local knowledge• Low cost (?)• Large number of observations• Cover wide geographical area• Temporal richness• Photographs• Geotagged information• Time/date stamped
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science – the challenges
• Data for use in decision making…– Barriers include a perceived lack of
confidence– Does smart technology automatically mean
smart data?– Can ‘citizen observatories’ add value?– Challenge is to reduce uncertainty
GPS Textual information
Photographs Locational uncertaintyUser rating Conflation with authoritative data
Agreement with surrounding observations
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science – the challenges
• Data quality• User skills and knowledge• Sample design• Volunteers/contributors – who and
why?• Security
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science – the challenges
• So…what’s new?• There are many citizen science and
crowdsourcing projects ‘out there’
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science – the challenges
• There is already lots of environmental data that might be useful
This data needs to be…
searchable,
discoverable, and
accessible.INTEROPERABILITY
Recap
• COBWEB…– …is not a data repository– …is a technology infrastructure to
facilitate the collection and sharing of environmental data
– …provides the ability to create customised apps for data collection
– …comprises of quality assurance components
– …considers the need for data security (personal and environmental)
QUESTIONS?
The app itself
Key features• Capture information
– Images– Audio– Text– Location
• High quality background maps• Saved maps for use “offline”• Custom data collection forms• Manual location correction
View COBWEB Portal
Join COBWEB Portal
Customise your own app for your survey
Customise your own app for your survey
Customise your own app for your survey
Citizen captures data on their phone
COBWEB Prototype work
• Dyfi Woodlands
• Outward Bound
• Bro Hyddgen High School
• AU MSc students
• Tal y Bont ‘Floodees’
Arolygon CoetirWoodland Surveys
• Manual upload required
• Database not easily accessible to participants
• Data uploaded to Dyfi Biosphere website
• Results available to view immediately
• Dynamic map
COBWEB Prototype Work
• Outward Bound Trust, Aberdovey
COBWEB Prototype Work
– John Muir Trust Award– Environmental Awareness
Explore Discover Conserve Share
COBWEB Prototype Work
• Land cover work with young people from Outward Bound
– The area is mainly made up of woody vegetation
– The area is mainly made up of graminoids– The area is mainly made up of lichens or
mosses
image©istockphoto 2014image©istockphoto 2014 image©istockphoto 2014
Stakeholder Engagement
Co-design
Co-design – Snowdonia National Park
• Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica• Giant Knotweed – Fallopia sachalinensis• Hybrid knotweed – Fallopia x bohemica
Co-design – RSPB
• Domenlas Saltmarsh– Survey vegetation– Use quadrats – Soil salinity levels– Weather conditions– Look at reversion process
• Covert Coch Peatbog– Survey vegetation– Use quadrats– Soil moisture– Grazing history
Janetbaxter.co.uk
Co-Design - Penparcau Community Forum
Co-Design - Penparcau Community Forum
• Temperature• Humidity
• Wind speed• Wind direction
• Pressure• Precipitation
In situ sensors
Usability Testing
Looking ahead
• Research– Quality Assurance– Security– Use of in situ sensors– Conflation with authoritative datasets
• Co-design projects– Kick-off workshop mid April– Projects continue until end Aug 2015
• Work within other Biosphere Reserves• Development work continues…
Thank you
• Website: http://cobwebproject.eu/
• Join our mailing list for updates on the project and opportunities to participate (http://eepurl.com/Ita05 or use QR code)
• Follow us: @cobwebfp7
• And look out for members of the COBWEB team at events and standards meetings.