Citizen Science for Earth Observation: Applications in Environmental Monitoring and Disaster Response

Abstract

Commission VI, WG VI/4 KEY WORDS: citizen science, Earth observation, forest biomass, disaster mapping, water quality ABSTRACT:Citizen science is a promising way to increase temporal and spatial coverages of in-situ data, and to aid in data processing and analysis. In this paper, we present how citizen science can be used together with Earth observation, and demonstrate its value through three pilot projects focusing on forest biomass analysis, data management in emergencies and water quality monitoring. We also provide recommendations and ideas for follow-up activities.In the forest biomass analysis pilot, in the state of Durango (Mexico), local volunteers make in-situ forest inventory measurements with mobile devices. The collected data is combined with Landsat-8 imagery to derive forest biomass map of the area. The study area includes over 390 permanent sampling plots that will provide reference data for concept validation and verification.The emergency data management pilot focuses in the Philippines, in the areas affected by the typhoons Haiyan in November 2013 and Hagupit in December 2014. Data collected by emergency workers and citizens are combined with satellite data (Landsat-8, VHR if available) to intensify the disaster recovery activities and the coordination efforts. Simple processes for citizens, nongovernmental organisations and volunteers are developed to find and utilize up to date and freely available satellite imagery for coordination purposes and for building new not-for-profit services in disaster situations.In the water quality monitoring pilot, citizens around the Baltic Sea area contribute to the algae situation awareness by collecting algae observations using a mobile application. In-situ observations are compared with surface algal bloom products based on the satellite imagery, e.g. Aqua MODIS images with 500 meter resolution. As an outcome, the usability of the citizen observations together with satellite data in the algae monitoring will be evaluated.

A Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring System for the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar Using a Participatory Approach

“…In Myanmar, it is logistically and financially unfeasible to monitor the water quality of the entire 2000 km of the Ayeyarwady River, which only includes the main channel. In this case, citizen science can significantly contribute to the monitoring program [1,6,8]. In such cases, the measurement methods should be simple and easy, so that everyone can use it.…”

“…Newly developed mobile phone applications in combination with citizen science are used in different fields of research, such as public health monitoring [2], water resources management [3], environmental monitoring [4][5][6], noise pollution measurement and mapping [7], earth observation [8], precipitation monitoring [9]. Mobile phones are widely used in the water domain [3,10,11].…”

Data poverty: A global evaluation for 2009 to 2013 - implications for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction

“…With an ever-increasing amount of data there is also the requirement to move 387 more data. For instance, there is now a large amount of freely available, internet-388 downloadable satellite remote sensing data, such as from NASA's Landsat or ESA's Sentinel 389 sensors, that can be used for DRR applications (Krishnamoorthi, 2016, Kotovirta et al, 2015 Schlaffer et al, 2015, Teeuw et al, 2012). However, it is worth noting that when switching 391 from using Landsat-7 to Landsat-8 remote sensing data (e.g.…”

Earth Observation for Citizen Science Validation, or, Citizen Science for Earth Observation Validation? The Role of Quality Assurance of Volunteered Observations

“…The EU funded Framework Programme Seven (FP7) Citizen OBservatory WEB (COBWEB) project used a co-design approach, engaging with stakeholders at multiple levels ('grass roots' CS practitioners, through to policy makers), to develop a research e-infrastructure that could be used to create, manage, validate and disseminate geospatial information rapidly and in a standardized way [12]. To better understand the benefits of such an e-infrastructure and the data it curates for the end users (citizens and policy makers alike), further research into the potential of qualified CS data in combination with EO land cover and habitat monitoring data products is required [13].…”