Citizen Science: Tools, Products & Software ; Toolkits
Citizen Science Starter Kit
by Carina Veeckman,Floor Keersmaekers, Karel Verbrugge and Eline Livémont of VUB’s Science Outreach Office
The starter kit consists of different modules:
• Module I – Start to learn about citizen science. This first module reflects upon the different terms and characteristics used to describe citizen science. The benefits of citizen science research are listed, and the diversity of the field is illustrated with case studies in all scientific branches and disciplines.
• Module II – Determine if citizen science is right for your research. Before you initiate a citizen science project, you should reflect on whether it is suitable for your research. This module provides some reflective questions as well as decision frameworks
to figure out the suitability of a citizen science approach.
• Module III – Crucial design factors for successful citizen science: This last module presents crucial design factors for planning and developing your citizen science research (project).
Biodiversa Citizen Science Toolkit
The Biodiversa Citizen Science Toolkit was developed by Biodiversa, the European Biodiversity Partnership, with the objective of informing scientists working in the fields of biodiversity and, more generally, in environmental sciences, about the potential benefits of Citizen Science, and to provide a summary of the rationale to develop Citizen Science, current best practices, and useful resources in the field.
The toolkit is aimed at researchers and scientists involved in research projects where Citizen Science could be used for data collection or public/stakeholder engagement (or where existing Citizen Science data could be used). It is expected that the toolkit could help scientists to better consider the different dimensions and potential of Citizen Science as part of their research projects.
Using examples from a variety of projects, including but not restricted to BiodivERsA-funded projects, the toolkit aims to improve the understanding of Citizen Science practices and overcome potential barriers in research projects.
Using examples from a variety of projects, including but not restricted to BiodivERsA-funded projects, the toolkit aims to improve the understanding of Citizen Science practices and overcome potential barriers in research projects.
Tools, Products, Webmapping
- AnecdataAnecdata is a free online platform for citizen and community science created by the MDI Biological Lab in Maine, USA.
- ArcGIS Survey123"ArcGIS Survey123 is a complete, form-centric solution for creating, sharing and analyzing surveys." This case study shows how it can be used for citizen science projects: www.nps.gov/articles/survey123.htm
- Epicollect5Epicollect5 is a mobile & web application for free and easy data collection created by the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance.
- EU Scent ToolboxScent is a European Union research project funded under the Horizon 2020 programme.
The Scent Toolbox is a set of smart technologies designed to engage citizens in environmental monitoring.
- HUMAP : The interactive map platform"Humap is an interactive map platform that works for storytellers, scientists, and everyone in-between.
Humap’s user-generated content feature is perfect for crowdsourcing in-depth, local knowledge and gathering qualitative and quantitative data."
- Merlin Bird IDFree global bird guide with photos,sounds, maps, and more. Download this free app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University.
- Pervasive NationThe objective of Pervasive Nation is to build an Internet of Things testbed of scale which will become a resource for industry, government and academia, and act as a strong catalyst for Internet of Things research and innovation. Pervasive Nation is a national resource open to any individual, researcher, educational institute, business, or agency seeking to test their IoT idea.
- SapelliSapelli is an open-source project that facilitates data collection across language or literacy barriers through highly configurable icon-driven user interfaces. It enables communities, regardless of social and geographical background, to map their environment. Download for free from the Google Play Store.
- SCORE Sensors Catalogue - EULow-cost sensors viable for citizen science activities. Includes sensors for measuring and detecting precipitation, temperature, uv levels, light intensity, soil moisture, water levels, topography and more.
- Smart CitizenThe project builds on open source technologies such as Arduino to enable citizens and communities to gather information on their environment and make it available to the public via the Smart Citizen platform. Use Smart Citizen as a tool for data capture and analysis, or to create local maps of noise and air quality.
- TelraamTelraam allows researchers and citizens count traffic accurately. Telraam develops high-tech and reliable measuring equipment that is made available to interested citizens. They are helped to set up their own fully automatic traffic counters.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License