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Philosphy

The Challenges

  • The many organisations / projects in the environmental industry makes it difficult to manage data
  • Current data collection process is hugely inefficient
  • Data is not being collected in a standardised format
  • Existing databases difficult to access and integrate into other applications
  • Full value of Citizen Scientist data still not being realised

Basic Strategy

  • A biodiversity manager appointed for each area of land
  • Data collected in a uniform and consistent way
  • Data aggregated for municipal, regional, national and cross border level
  • Specialist data also collected for research projects
  • Best results will be achieved with the collaboration of multiple organisations and enrolling Citizen Scientists
  • Each collaboration partner has specific responsibility for one part of the system and duplication of effort minimised

Collaboration Partners

Joint discussions have led to a general census on strategy

  • Wildlife Hero collects data with our Citizen Scientist friendly app
  • Local Authorities and ADU verify data
  • SANBI provide top level data  taxonomy,conservation status / protected / sensitive / invasive
  • ICLEI helps expand geographically 
  • GBIF are final data depository
  • Peace Parks expand scope and cross borders
  • WESSA Eco-Schools help LA supplement data collection

Data Storage

All sightings initially stored in the Wildlife Hero cloud. On receipt of acceptance data automatically uploaded to 

  • Biodiversity Management System
  • SANBI National database
  • GBIF Global database
  • ADU Virtual Museum + photo

Verification Process

Every sighting generates an email to the biodiversity manager with

  • Common Name /Binomial
  • Recorder with email link 
  • Photo
  • Map with physical address, co-ordinates
  • Conservation Status , if Protected ,if Sensitive
  • Date of Last Sighting
  • Nearest previous recording in km 

Manager decides to either Accept / Reject / Lock with one click on the email. He can also Refer to a specialist of ADU for identification or ask for More info.

Alerts

  • On receipt of a sighting report specialist alerts are sent to those registereing an interest
  • sent via 
    • Email
    • SMS
    • Phone Push Notifications

Other Objectives

  • To ensure the base application is provided free to all local residents 
  • To build a large and diverse user base 
  • To make all the data stored easily accessible by others
  • To allow policing of the data on sensitive species
  • To continually upgrade the diversity and quality of the data
  • To actively engage both academic and amateur enthusiasts in the project, not only to authenticate but improve the content
  • To harvest the resource that is Citizen Science

Target Impacts

  • Quicker and more informed environmental decisions for Owners
  • Better Researcher focus
  • Increased awareness within the general public of environmental issues
  • Large increase and consistency in school environmental programmes
  • The spawning of rich environmental applications and eLearning / mLearning software