The Beaver App
The Problem:
A researching group at Utah State University developed a beaver dam capacity model for the state of Utah. The model uses environmental variables such as stream channel slope, stream power, and vegetation composition to estimate the potential for dams to persist in stream reaches. These variables are estimated using spatial data and need to be validated. The output of the model needs to be validated as well. However, hiring and deploying enough researchers to visit streams throughout the state of Utah is far to expensive for this project.
The Solution:
We developed a mobile application with versions for the iPad, iPad mini, and iPhone that allows the user to collect important data validation metrics in the field. This application will be used as part of a citizen science project where volunteers from around the state will collect the data for the group at USU. The version shown here is the 'Lite' version, and requires very simple measurements and field observations. A full version is available to trained volunteers that expects the user to collect much more data. Once the volunteer has WiFi or cellular signal, they can hit an "Upload" button that sends the data directly to a server that the researchers at USU maintain.
User Benefits:
This project will save the group at USU time and money by crowd sourcing the data collection. There are many examples of successful citizen science projects, but they must be simple to succeed. This application greatly simplifies the volunteers responsibilities by removing the need for data sheets and digital entry. Because the data is uploaded with the tap of a button, the researchers receive their data quickly with very little effort on the volunteer's end.
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A researching group at Utah State University developed a beaver dam capacity model for the state of Utah. The model uses environmental variables such as stream channel slope, stream power, and vegetation composition to estimate the potential for dams to persist in stream reaches. These variables are estimated using spatial data and need to be validated. The output of the model needs to be validated as well. However, hiring and deploying enough researchers to visit streams throughout the state of Utah is far to expensive for this project.
The Solution:
We developed a mobile application with versions for the iPad, iPad mini, and iPhone that allows the user to collect important data validation metrics in the field. This application will be used as part of a citizen science project where volunteers from around the state will collect the data for the group at USU. The version shown here is the 'Lite' version, and requires very simple measurements and field observations. A full version is available to trained volunteers that expects the user to collect much more data. Once the volunteer has WiFi or cellular signal, they can hit an "Upload" button that sends the data directly to a server that the researchers at USU maintain.
User Benefits:
This project will save the group at USU time and money by crowd sourcing the data collection. There are many examples of successful citizen science projects, but they must be simple to succeed. This application greatly simplifies the volunteers responsibilities by removing the need for data sheets and digital entry. Because the data is uploaded with the tap of a button, the researchers receive their data quickly with very little effort on the volunteer's end.
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