Citizen Science Monitoring
The City of Fitchburg Parks and Forestry Department has created an initiative to better manage its parks and natural areas. Citizen science monitoring utilizes local residents to help gather a large amount of data in a short amount of time. Using this approach allows the department to gather data that otherwise might not be able to be collected due to time, geographic, or resource constraints. Classic citizen science involves using pencil and paper, which makes a large amount of paper and clutter. Advances in technology have allowed citizen science to move into the digital world and can now be done using a smartphone which is something most people commonly own.
How It Works
A variety of applications are available for citizen science monitoring including, E-Bird, iNaturalist, and GLEDN. These applications utilize the GPS in a smartphone to track sightings of certain items in nature, which the individual then records. Once the location is recorded the individual enters in information on their findings. This information is then submitted to the application to be used by local and national conservation science groups, as well as the City of Fitchburg. To learn more about how this process works, and how the applications function, click on one of the links below.
- Check out the article in April 2017's edition of the Fitchburg Star (Page 4)
- On April 10th 2017 the City of Fitchburg Forestry Department conducted a citizen science monitoring workshop and training event in conjunction with the Fitchburg Library and the Wisconsin First Detectors Network. The PowerPoints can be viewed below after the training date.