Mobile Photo Monitoring: Crowdsourcing for Riparian Restoration

Location

Ellen Eccles Conference Center

Event Website

https://forestry.usu.edu/htm/video/conferences/restoring-the-west-conference-2014/

Abstract

Riparian ecosystems are a vital part of watershed health, but monitoring of restoration projects in riparian corridors is often lacking because of poor record keeping and missing data. One of the most common forms of restoration monitoring is the collection of photo-points, yet critical metadata is often not collected or properly stored with the photo. Both professionals monitoring Best Management Practices and citizen scientists engaged in monitoring need a way to efficiently and effectively collect, store, and share accurate photo point monitoring records. The USU Water Quality Extension’s “Utah Water Watch” program has developed an app to allow photo-point monitoring of riparian ecosystems by professionals and volunteers across the state. This app allows streamlined and consistent monitoring of riparian areas with minimal training using a familiar smartphone interface. This not only increases the completeness of the records, but increases the number of people who can accurately conduct photo point monitoring.

The app includes inputs for date, time, location, comments, and photographs / videos (both up- and down- stream) linked to cardinal directions and geo-referenced position. These data can be uploaded to a server database managed by USU Water Quality Extension, and then made available to professionals looking for information about specific watersheds or restoration projects. The images can be used to identify locations where processes of interest are occurring such as reestablishment of stream bank vegetation, erosion, or channel alteration. These complete records of photo point monitoring with the associated metadata can serve as critical benchmarks for researchers and resource management professionals evaluating the success of restoration projects.

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Oct 21st, 10:40 AM Oct 21st, 10:50 AM

Mobile Photo Monitoring: Crowdsourcing for Riparian Restoration

Ellen Eccles Conference Center

Riparian ecosystems are a vital part of watershed health, but monitoring of restoration projects in riparian corridors is often lacking because of poor record keeping and missing data. One of the most common forms of restoration monitoring is the collection of photo-points, yet critical metadata is often not collected or properly stored with the photo. Both professionals monitoring Best Management Practices and citizen scientists engaged in monitoring need a way to efficiently and effectively collect, store, and share accurate photo point monitoring records. The USU Water Quality Extension’s “Utah Water Watch” program has developed an app to allow photo-point monitoring of riparian ecosystems by professionals and volunteers across the state. This app allows streamlined and consistent monitoring of riparian areas with minimal training using a familiar smartphone interface. This not only increases the completeness of the records, but increases the number of people who can accurately conduct photo point monitoring.

The app includes inputs for date, time, location, comments, and photographs / videos (both up- and down- stream) linked to cardinal directions and geo-referenced position. These data can be uploaded to a server database managed by USU Water Quality Extension, and then made available to professionals looking for information about specific watersheds or restoration projects. The images can be used to identify locations where processes of interest are occurring such as reestablishment of stream bank vegetation, erosion, or channel alteration. These complete records of photo point monitoring with the associated metadata can serve as critical benchmarks for researchers and resource management professionals evaluating the success of restoration projects.

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/rtw/2014/Posters/4