Plataforma ciencia cidada invasoras.pt

Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 1

The experience of

Elizabete Marchante Centre for Functional Ecology |University of Coimbra

[email protected]


Citizen-science platform – mapping of invasive plants in Portugal

More info: Marchante et al. in press. Using a WebMapping platform to engage volunteers to collect data on invasive plants distribution. Transactions in GIS. doi: 10.1111/tgis.12198


Online since March 2013

Main objectives:

• Promote engagement and participation of Portuguese citizens in the mapping of invasive plants in Portugal

• Open the way for an early-detection & rapid response program for alien plants

• Make available invasive plant data for researchers, environmental managers, citizens, etc. – Google Fusion Table and GBIF database.

Citizen-science platform


1. Users register on the website database

How does it work?


1. Users register on the website database2. Report sightings of invasive plants in Portugal:

1. on the website – PDF file for registration

How does it work?



1. on the website – PDF file for registration2. app for Android (smartphones and tablets)

How does it work?



1. on the website – PDF file for registration2. app for Android (smartphones and tablets)

3. Project team validates sightings4. Sightings visible on the online map

How does it work?


The online map is supported by: - www.invasoras.pt (renewed since March 2013)• species profiles• ID key for Acacia spp.

- identification guide• printed• online

How does it work?

http://www.invasoras.pt/


• Website (static info and new posts regularly)

How do we engage citizens?



• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)





• Online campaigns when some plants are more showy





• Online campaigns when some plants are more showy• Workshops of ID and mapping (control) of invasive plants• National newspaper(2013): Jornal de Notícias – 12 weekly articles

about invasive plants + 8 page final supplement

• Newsletter• YouTube: videos of control methods, interviews with experts, case studies, etc.

• Talks, training courses, camps of scientific work, etc.







• Newsletter



How is it working (1)?March 2013 to December 2016Number of validated sightings: 11247Number of registered/active users: 1795/395 (22%)


How is it working (2)?

*offline period due to server issues; --- public awareness campaigns (acacias & Pampas grass)

Site pageviews: 722.198 (20.261 to the map)

1 2-10 11-20

20-50

50-100

> 100

020406080

100120140160180

Validated sight -ings

Number of sightings

Num

ber o

f con

trib

utor

s

mar-13

mai-13jul-1

3set-1

3nov-1

3jan-14

mar-14

mai-14jul-1

4

set-14* …

fev-15abr-1

5jun-15

ago-15out-1

5dez-1

5fev-1

6abr-1

6jun-16

ago-16out-1

6dez-1

60

100200300400500600700800900

Validated sightings

num

ber o

f sig

hting

s78 - 21 - 1(90 - 9 - 1)


September 2011 – December 2013 (opportunity! dedicated funding)Media-Science project, including:

• 2 full time research fellows• From scientific areas and social communication

Who is behind the project?


September 2011 – December 2013 (opportunity! dedicated funding)Media-Science project, including:

• 2 full time research fellows• From scientific areas and social communication

Entities:

Funding (aprox. 76.000€):

After 2013 (big challenge)• Some team members (pro bono)• Research projects INVADER-B and INVADER-IV

Who is behind the project?


Final considerations & challenges• Portuguese public not traditionally engaged with citizen science• Very specific theme: not easy to go beyond “converted experts &

stakeholders”, but some approaches are helpful:• Hands-on activities – easier to engage the public • Social networks connected with the website• Multidisciplinary team (scientists and communicators)

• Species unawareness and ID (many species unknown to the public)

• Continuity of funding (several discontinued platforms)

• “Competition” (many apps, many environmental causes,…)

• Data used by scientists (+) & managers (-)• At least 5 academic works| 1871 downloads from GBIF | Google Fusion

(CSV)?


Final considerations & challenges• Data quality?

• Species ID: > 95% sightings are validated bias towards “experts”• Ca. ½ App Android (GPS and 6% network) + ½ online Invasoras.pt • Bias towards accessible areas • Bias towards showy /easy ID species (trees and shrubs; known species)• Some species difficult to ID – only genera level

• Future?• Improve users contribution (many do not contribute)• More Workshops / invasoras.pt tools to improve data quality & ↓ biases• Alert species early detection! • More invasive species • Other operating systems (iOS or other – under development)


THANK YOU!

More info: invasoras.pt https://www.facebook.com/InvasorasPt

[email protected]

http://www.invasoras.pt/

https://www.facebook.com/InvasorasPt

mailto:[email protected]

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