Comunicação apresentada no COST- JRC WORKSHOP "Citizen science and open data: a model for IAS in European Commission", em 8 de Fevereiro de 2017, em Bruxelas.
1. 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
emarchante@uc.pt
2. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 2
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
3. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 3
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
4. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 4
1. Users register on the website database
How does it work?
5. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 5
1. Users register on the website database
2. Report sightings of invasive plants in Portugal:
1. on the website – PDF file for registration
How does it work?
6. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 6
1. Users register on the website database
2. Report sightings of invasive plants in Portugal:
1. on the website – PDF file for registration
2. app for Android (smartphones and tablets)
How does it work?
7. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 7
1. Users register on the website database
2. Report sightings of invasive plants in Portugal:
1. on the website – PDF file for registration
2. app for Android (smartphones and tablets)
3. Project team validates sightings
4. Sightings visible on the online map
How does it work?
8. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 8
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?
9. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 9
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
How do we engage citizens?
10. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 10
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
How do we engage citizens?
11. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 11
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• Online campaigns when some plants are more showy
How do we engage citizens?
12. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 12
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• 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.
How do we engage citizens?
13. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 13
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• 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.
How do we engage citizens?
14. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 14
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• 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
How do we engage citizens?
15. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 15
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• 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.
How do we engage citizens?
16. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 16
• Website (static info and new posts regularly)
• Facebook (connected to website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Slideshare)
• 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.
How do we engage citizens?
17. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 17
How is it working (1)?
March 2013 to December 2016
Number of validated sightings: 11247
Number of registered/active users: 1795/395 (22%)
18. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 18
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)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Numberofcontributors
Number of sightings
Validated sightings
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
mar-13
mai-13
jul-13
set-13
nov-13
jan-14
mar-14
mai-14
jul-14
set-14*
…
fev-15
abr-15
jun-15
ago-15
out-15
dez-15
fev-16
abr-16
jun-16
ago-16
out-16
dez-16
numberofsightings
Validated sightings
78 - 21 - 1
(90 - 9 - 1)
19. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 19
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?
20. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 20
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?
21. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 21
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)?
22. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 22
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)
23. Brussels | February 8th 2017 | Citizen Science and Open Data: a model for IAS in Europe | invasoras.pt 23
THANK YOU!
More info: invasoras.pt
https://www.facebook.com/InvasorasPt
emarchante@uc.pt
Editor's Notes
following the 90-9-1 rule (Nielsen 2006), where 90% are members who never contribute to the project, 9% are contributors that add information sporadically and 1% are the contributors that account for almost all the collected information.