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COBWEB End of Summer 2015 Co-Design Projects Celebration

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EDINA, University of Edinburgh
EDINA, University of Edinburgh

The document introduces the COBWEB project, which developed a crowdsourcing platform for citizen science. It summarizes that COBWEB ran from 2012-2016, created mobile apps to collect validated environmental data from citizens, and tested the platform in several biosphere reserves. The document discusses balancing research and testing goals as the project neared completion and looked to increase adoption of the technology.

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COBWEB End of Summer 2015 Co-Design Projects Celebration, Machynlleth, 21st Sept, 2015 Chris Higgins chris.higgins@ed.ac.uk Sta
Introduction to COBWEB • Research Project: Funded under the European Commission’s Framework Programme 7 • Started Nov 2012 for 4 years (Month 35 of 48) • First demonstrator completed, validated and tested during the 2015 Summer field season • Why for COBWEB and Citizen Observatory’s? – GPS enabled, internet connected mobile devices now ubiquitous – Lots of potential, eg, can citizen sourced environmental data be useful for decision making?
Key research questions • Generic crowdsourcing infrastructure – A toolkit which can be downloaded and used in multiple scenarios • Data which supports policy • Address data quality issues • Open standards • Security and privacy
Project Partners
UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves Sites of excellence to foster harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through participation, knowledge sharing, poverty reduction and human well-being improvements, cultural values and society's ability to cope with change, thus contributing to the Millennium Development Goals
Why Biosphere Reserves? • Areas of high nature conservation value • People • Enthusiastic local communities interested in sustainability • Existing internal communication structures • Designed for purpose – sustainability science • Network facilitates comparative functions, eg, between countries
COBWEB Biosphere Reserves Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere Mount Olympus Gorge of Samaria Wadden See & Hallig islands
Dyfi Biosphere Reserve #1 www.biosfferdyfi.org.uk
Dyfi Biosphere Reserve #2 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (2013) ©CountrysideCouncilforWales.Allrightsreserved.
Co-design
Not just apps #1 A number of demonstrator mobile phone applications – Exactly what, deliberately left open and subject to discussion with community 3 pilot case study areas: 1. Validating earth observation products 2. Biological monitoring 3. Flooding
Not just apps #2
How COBWEB works The crowd  Validated  Quality approved  Compliant Authoritative data Data client - Commercial - Government - Community Sensors in the environment
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated 3 Active R&D initiated Experimental proof of concept 4 Technology validation within a laboratory environment 5 Technology validation in relevant environment 6 Demonstration in a relevant environment 7 Demonstration in an operational environment 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations
Key components at different TRL’s • Conflation • QA workflow editor • QA WPS/services • Sensor networks • GeoNetwork/Portal • Middleware • Authoring tool/Survey designer • Apps • User management and privacy • Access control • Authentication
The app itself Key features • Capture information – Images – Audio – Text – Location • High quality background maps • Saved maps for use ��offline” • Custom data collection forms • Manual location correction
View COBWEB Portal
Join COBWEB Portal
Customise your own app for your survey
Customise your own app for your survey
Customise your own app for your survey
Citizen captures data on their phone
Some Project Dynamics 1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for 4 years, software now validated and tested • Last quarter of project now… 2. An “SME Targeted Collaborative” project • 30% EU contribution to SMEs 3. Develop 'citizens' observatories’ • Mobilise citizens • Emphasised during Grant Negotiation • “Co-design” fund established 4. A research project doing innovative work • Crowdsourced environmental data to aid decision making
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated 3 Active R&D initiated Experimental proof of concept 4 Technology validation within a laboratory environment 5 Technology validation in relevant environment 6 Demonstration in a relevant environment 7 Demonstration in an operational environment 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations
Some Project Dynamics Mainly medium to high TRLs Requires high TRLs By definition, lower TRLs 1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for 4 years, software now validated and tested • Last quarter of project now… 2. An “SME Targeted Collaborative” project • 30% EU contribution to SMEs 3. Develop 'citizens' observatories’ • Mobilise citizens • Emphasised during Grant Negotiation • “Co-design” fund established 4. A research project doing innovative work • Crowdsourced environmental data to aid decision making
Balancing Act • Validating our concept of Citizen Observatory • Testing the software • But, research and development continues in parallel • However, we do recognise some components need to be of higher TRL • But, this is a research and development project – Don’t have all the answers – Don’t know exactly where we are going to end up
Remainder of project…emphasis shifting • Rolling out software • Getting greater buy-in • Sustainability • Progressing the research agenda • Greater focus on Greece, Germany • Additional Biosphere Reserves
Some parameters constraining 2016 activity • More people using the technology • A broader demographic • Using their own handsets • Geographically more widespread • Data finds its way into existing infrastructures like the National Biodiversity Network
What would I like out of todays activity • Dialogue – Between the Co-Design projects – Co-Design projects and COBWEBbers – Co-Design projects, COBWEBbers and you • Assistance in formulating plans for 2016 • Some fun, lot of good work done and a knees up overdue
Thank you • Website: http://cobwebproject.eu/ • Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/Ita05 or use the QR code • Follow us: @cobwebfp7 • And look out for members of the COBWEB team at events. chris.higgins@ed.ac.uk

More Related Content

COBWEB End of Summer 2015 Co-Design Projects Celebration

  • 1. COBWEB End of Summer 2015 Co-Design Projects Celebration, Machynlleth, 21st Sept, 2015 Chris Higgins chris.higgins@ed.ac.uk Sta
  • 2. Introduction to COBWEB • Research Project: Funded under the European Commission’s Framework Programme 7 • Started Nov 2012 for 4 years (Month 35 of 48) • First demonstrator completed, validated and tested during the 2015 Summer field season • Why for COBWEB and Citizen Observatory’s? – GPS enabled, internet connected mobile devices now ubiquitous – Lots of potential, eg, can citizen sourced environmental data be useful for decision making?
  • 3. Key research questions • Generic crowdsourcing infrastructure – A toolkit which can be downloaded and used in multiple scenarios • Data which supports policy • Address data quality issues • Open standards • Security and privacy
  • 5. UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves Sites of excellence to foster harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through participation, knowledge sharing, poverty reduction and human well-being improvements, cultural values and society's ability to cope with change, thus contributing to the Millennium Development Goals
  • 6. Why Biosphere Reserves? • Areas of high nature conservation value • People • Enthusiastic local communities interested in sustainability • Existing internal communication structures • Designed for purpose – sustainability science • Network facilitates comparative functions, eg, between countries
  • 7. COBWEB Biosphere Reserves Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere Mount Olympus Gorge of Samaria Wadden See & Hallig islands
  • 8. Dyfi Biosphere Reserve #1 www.biosfferdyfi.org.uk
  • 9. Dyfi Biosphere Reserve #2 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (2013) ©CountrysideCouncilforWales.Allrightsreserved.
  • 11. Not just apps #1 A number of demonstrator mobile phone applications – Exactly what, deliberately left open and subject to discussion with community 3 pilot case study areas: 1. Validating earth observation products 2. Biological monitoring 3. Flooding
  • 13. How COBWEB works The crowd  Validated  Quality approved  Compliant Authoritative data Data client - Commercial - Government - Community Sensors in the environment
  • 14. Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated 3 Active R&D initiated Experimental proof of concept 4 Technology validation within a laboratory environment 5 Technology validation in relevant environment 6 Demonstration in a relevant environment 7 Demonstration in an operational environment 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations
  • 15. Key components at different TRL’s • Conflation • QA workflow editor • QA WPS/services • Sensor networks • GeoNetwork/Portal • Middleware • Authoring tool/Survey designer • Apps • User management and privacy • Access control • Authentication
  • 16. The app itself Key features • Capture information – Images – Audio – Text – Location • High quality background maps • Saved maps for use “offline” • Custom data collection forms • Manual location correction
  • 19. Customise your own app for your survey
  • 20. Customise your own app for your survey
  • 21. Customise your own app for your survey
  • 22. Citizen captures data on their phone
  • 23. Some Project Dynamics 1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for 4 years, software now validated and tested • Last quarter of project now… 2. An “SME Targeted Collaborative” project • 30% EU contribution to SMEs 3. Develop 'citizens' observatories’ • Mobilise citizens • Emphasised during Grant Negotiation • “Co-design” fund established 4. A research project doing innovative work • Crowdsourced environmental data to aid decision making
  • 24. Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated 3 Active R&D initiated Experimental proof of concept 4 Technology validation within a laboratory environment 5 Technology validation in relevant environment 6 Demonstration in a relevant environment 7 Demonstration in an operational environment 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations
  • 25. Some Project Dynamics Mainly medium to high TRLs Requires high TRLs By definition, lower TRLs 1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for 4 years, software now validated and tested • Last quarter of project now… 2. An “SME Targeted Collaborative” project • 30% EU contribution to SMEs 3. Develop 'citizens' observatories’ • Mobilise citizens • Emphasised during Grant Negotiation • “Co-design” fund established 4. A research project doing innovative work • Crowdsourced environmental data to aid decision making
  • 26. Balancing Act • Validating our concept of Citizen Observatory • Testing the software • But, research and development continues in parallel • However, we do recognise some components need to be of higher TRL • But, this is a research and development project – Don’t have all the answers – Don’t know exactly where we are going to end up
  • 27. Remainder of project…emphasis shifting • Rolling out software • Getting greater buy-in • Sustainability • Progressing the research agenda • Greater focus on Greece, Germany • Additional Biosphere Reserves
  • 28. Some parameters constraining 2016 activity • More people using the technology • A broader demographic • Using their own handsets • Geographically more widespread • Data finds its way into existing infrastructures like the National Biodiversity Network
  • 29. What would I like out of todays activity • Dialogue – Between the Co-Design projects – Co-Design projects and COBWEBbers – Co-Design projects, COBWEBbers and you • Assistance in formulating plans for 2016 • Some fun, lot of good work done and a knees up overdue
  • 30. Thank you • Website: http://cobwebproject.eu/ • Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/Ita05 or use the QR code • Follow us: @cobwebfp7 • And look out for members of the COBWEB team at events. chris.higgins@ed.ac.uk