Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Clemson University’s Vanishing Firefly Project: Using a Mobile Phone App as Educational and Research Tools for Sustainability
EPA Grant Number: SU835496Title: Clemson University’s Vanishing Firefly Project: Using a Mobile Phone App as Educational and Research Tools for Sustainability
Investigators: Chow, Alex , Pargas, Roy P , Voges, Amanda , Li, Binibin , Edmonson, Douglas , Edison, Greg , Hull, Joshua , Chong, Juang-Horng , Lyons, Renee
Institution: Clemson University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2013 through August 14, 2014
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Objective:
Rapid population growth and urban development have altered the rural landscape worldwide, deteriorating our natural and water resources. Knowledge of, and experience with, the impacts of urbanization are key factors in determining one's acceptance of sustainable practices. The objective of the Clemson Vanishing Firefly Project is to promote environmental sustainability and stewardship through the participation and education of local communities in environmental science research.
Description:
The novelty of this citizen scientist project is to integrate mobile phone technology into a field research study. Participants of the Clemson Firefly Survey will use the program's newly developed mobile phone app to record the number of fireflies (using the number of bioluminescence flashings as a proxy) observed at any location. Fireflies are reliable indicators of environmental health because their abundance is correlated to the availability of suitable habitats. The data, with the exact locations and times of the observations, will be sent to a server housed at Clemson University and will be used for long-term climate change and sustainability studies. Maps showing the occurrences of fireflies, land use patterns, and environmental quality impairments can be viewed though Clemson Community Inventory Resource online.
Objectives:
The goal of the project is to provide a useful tool and a fun and educational activity for the general public to evaluate the impacts of urbanization and other human activities on the natural environments and their communities . Through their participation in this family-oriented citizen scientist project, citizens (from school-age children to seniors) could have a better understanding on the importance of environmentally sustainable practices and pay more attention to the environmental quality in their communities, and eventually may choose to practice sustainable behaviors in their daily life. There are two specific objectives in the Phase I study:
Objective 1: Enhancement of mobile phone app functionality- To evaluate the applicability and the functionality of the mobile phone app in a field survey study
Objective 2: Integration of mobile phone technology into citizen scientist project - To design a user-friendly app and develop associated and supported tools for environmental science education .
The Clemson P3 Team consisted of two student teams to achieve the two objectives. A technology team composed of students with training in computer programming and geographic information system worked to accomplish Objective 1. The team members developed Clemson Firefly Counter on iOS and Android operation systems, operating the database and data storage, and integrating the data into the interactive maps in Clemson Community Resources Inventory. An education team composed of students with background in natural resources and education worked to accomplish Objective 2. The team members organized Firefly Field Day and Statewide Firefly Survey as well as prepared training materials and conducted evaluation .
At the conclusion of the 2013 SC Statewide Surveys, the glitches in the mobile device app, the shortcomings of the training materials , the pitfalls related to the field survey techniques were identified . The technology and education teams worked closely to integrate the new survey techniques in the mobile phone app and include better designed educational materials to the app. With the experiences learnt from Phase I, the Clemson P3 team is better prepared to fully implement and expand the Clemson Vanishing Firefly Project.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The Clemson P3 Team published the iOS version of 'Firefly Counter' on April 2013. The SC Statewide Survey was launched online and the Firefly Field Day was held at Hobcaw Barony (Georgetown , SC) on June 1, 2013. During the 2013 SC Statewide Survey, the Clemson P3 Team recorded a total of 1,271 data entries, including 729 uploaded from the mobile phone app and 542 submitted through the Clemson Firefly web site (http://firefly.clemson.edu Exit) developed by Dr. D White. Participants of the Statewide Survey ranged from 8 to 76 years of age. Also , number of page views on the Clemson firefly web page reached 10,662 between May 25 and June 5, 2013. Results of the firefly survey were integrated on to Clemson Resources Inventory , a GIS based application. Results can be viewed on Clemson Firefly web site.
Based on the activities, the Clemson P3 Team identified several weaknesses/shortcomings in the current version of the app, educational materials, and survey techniques:
- Dead zone for mobile phone- The Clemson Firefly Counter did not operate properly in remote locations with poor or intermittent cellular signal. These cellular signal dead zones, typically in parks and forests, also are where fireflies are most active.
- Poorly worded education materials - The educational materials were not clear on the survey techniques. As a result, some participants counted the number of flashings instead of number of fireflies in the fields.
- Shortcomings of survey technique - Participants were asked to count the number of fireflies they can see in their field of view in a minute. There are several problems with this technique: 1) The field of vision is too large, 2) The technique is not standardized and is subject to the interpretation and whims of the participants, and 3) The participants cannot trace the flight paths of fireflies and may result in double-counting the same fireflies.
After the conclusion of the 2013 statewide survey, the Clemson P3 Team addressed the problems identified in the surveys, improved the techniques, and added new features to the mobile phone app. Six tasks were accomplished in Phase I:
Task 1) Functionality of the app - The Clemson P3 Team has developed 'Firefly Counter' Version 2 for both iOS and Android operating systems. The updated version of the app includes a data storage function that can store the survey data, including the GPS location and the number of fireflies count, and transmit data when the mobile device leaves the signal dead zone and receives cellular signal, ii) light intensity measurement for light pollution, and iii) real time data collection, which allows participants to view their own results and other participants by simply selecting the links that embedded in the start screen of the app or the web form
Task 2) Data Storage - The app of version 1 used a MySQL database to store participant submissions from the iOS app. The second-generation database was rebuilt using PostgreSQL technology and the data model has been modified to support data collection for the latest requirements. The database at this time is hosted on the Amazon Cloud currently; a final hosted solution at Clemson University is expected.
Task 3) Standard survey method- To ensure the data quality, standardization and replicability, the Clemson P3 Team developed the hand-circle technique as the standard field survey method for the firefly count. Briefly, participants will make a circle with their thumb and middle finger and hold the circle to their eyes. Within a minute time, participants count the number of fireflies they see through their circles without moving their heads. Also, animations on flashing patterns on the species identification are prepared. Visual aids are embedded into the phone app, web site, and the field guide.
Task 4) Recruitment- In 2013, the Clemson P3 Team released news articles and partnerships with local non-government organization to recruit volunteers to participate in the firefly surveys . In addition to these two methods, the Clemson P3 Team prepared a field guide, 10-minute video and setup Facebook page and Twitter to increase the number of participants.
Task 5) ·Publication of the 'Firefly Counter'- The 'Firefly Flash Counter' (version 1) operates on iOS was published on May 20, 2013 and was used in the 2013 Clemson Firefly Statewide survey and Field Day at Hobcaw Barony on June 1, 2013 . The 'Firefly Counter' (version 2) that operates on iOS and Android systems is currently in beta-testing and will be published in late April 2014. A preliminary user group test had been conducted.
Task 6) Data Integration and Dissemination - The results of the Statewide Survey have been incorporated into an analytical platform based on ArcGIS Server technology using the Flex API and can be viewed on the Clemson Firefly page (http://maps.clemson.edu/firefly) . The use of Flex API is to allow easy access and viewing by citizens and stakeholders with limited knowledge or no experience in GIS.
Conclusions:
Based on the results of Phase I, we identified several important factors that affect the use of mobile device app in field research and citizen science project:
- Citizens, regardless of their age, are interested in fireflies. The interest in the biology and health of the firefly population could become a useful topic in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) education.
- The development of mobile device app for field research should be taken into consideration on the poor cellular signal in remote locations. Additional data storage should be provided to hold the data and allow for transmission of data when signal become available at a later time.
- Participants are eager to receive the results of the surveys. They may lose interest in the project if the results of the survey are not forthcoming.
- The diverse background of the citizen scientists is a great challenge to ensure quality of data. Standard method with visual aids and practices are needed for quality assurance.
- Large, spatial, and simultaneous environmental data can be collected with assistance of citizen scientists and the mobile phone technology. With suitable training, citizen scientists could assist in the collection of large spatial data that cannot be performed by remote sensing technology.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 4 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Chow AT, Chong J-H, Cook M, White D. Vanishing fireflies: a citizen science project promoting scientific inquiry and environmental stewardship. Science Education & Civil Engagement 2014;6:23-31. |
SU835496 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Conservation, Environmental Education, Sustainability MonitoringRelevant Websites:
Clemson Vanishing Firefly Project ExitThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.