COBWEB – where we are at

Co-Design Workshop,Machynlleth.

16th October, 2014

Chris Higgins,Project Coordinator: EDINA, University of Edinburgh

chris.higgins@ed.ac.uk

Big Picture

• Explosion in availability of smartphones and tablets equals great potential for “citizens as sensors”

• How to make the data gathered usable?• What quality measures are needed?• How to reduce uncertainty?• How can crowdsourced environmental data aid

decision making?• How can our crowdsourced data be fused with

reference data and be deployed in standards based Spatial Data Infrastructures?

Essential context – WNBR

• UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programmes World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

• 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

• 610 reserves in 117 countries

COBWEB Biosphere Reserves

• Germany: Wadden See and Hallig Islands• Greece: Mount Olympus & Gorge of Samaria• Left open possibility of expansion to further BRs,

eg, Urdabai

UK (Wales): Biosffer Dyfi– Development work

concentrated here

Dyfi Biosphere Vision Statement

“The Dyfi Biosphere will be recognised and respected internationally, nationally and

locally for the diversity of its natural beauty, heritage and wildlife, and for its people’s

efforts to make a positive contribution to a more sustainable world. It will be a self confident, healthy, caring and bilingual

community, supported by a strong locally-based economy.”

Overall Project Status

1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for

4 years

• Currently at Month 24 of 48

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 initiatedExperimental 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

Overall Project Status

Mainly medium to high TRLs

Requires high TRLs

By definition, lower TRLs

1. Project started 1st Nov, 2012 and runs for

4 years

• Currently at Month 24 of 48

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

Co-Design

“…a product, service, or organization development process where design professionals empower, encourage, and guide users to develop solutions

for themselves.” Wikipedia

Objectives & Scope for the sub-projects

1. Engage in dialogue with members of the COBWEB consortium to assist in the design of apps, and to assist in identifying further user requirements.

2. Use the generic COBWEB apps to address specific needs within your project or area of expertise, and advise us on adaptations to these apps

3. Arrange and manage groups of citizens in field testing COBWEB app(s) in the Dyfi Biosphere area

Some key dates

Date(s) What Notes

16th Oct, 2014 “Kickoff” meeting

Nov 2014 Conclude negotiation and sign contracts

Dec 2014 1st release COBWEB platform

Technical team VERY busy

Nov/Dec 2014 onwards

Start helping with testing software

Feb 2015 - Start training with software and engaging citizens

Sept 2015 Conclude and report

Some Objectives for this workshop

• Make sure you all know each other• Provide information, take questions, discuss• Dialogue between sub-projects to see if further

synergies can be identified• Dialogue between sub-projects and COBWEB

team to refine progressing our agenda• Dialogue between sub-projects and COBWEB

team to identify additional ways of progressing our agenda

Programme Management

• Administration: Wendy MacAdie• Overall activity: Andy Rowland• Steering Committee: Representatives from all local

organisations and Edinburgh• Review Committee: Same as above with additional

representation including Nottingham University and University College Dublin

• Champions appointed to act as the main point of contact for the sub-project with COBWEB and to represent the interests of the sub-project within the consortium, making sure the right contacts are made when necessary.

COBWEB “Champions”

Lead Organisation Project Name Champion

Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri / Snowdonia National Park Authority

Arolwg Llysiau’r Dial Eryri – Snowdonia Japanese Knotweed Survey

Penparcau Community Forum – Forwm Cymunedol Penparcau

W.O.O.D – Wildlife on our Doorstep

Cardigan Bay MarineWildlife Group

Mapping Marine Megafauna

Coetiroedd Dyfi Woodlands

Citizen Science in Action

The Outward Bound Trust

OBBSURV – Outward Bound Biosphere Survey

RSPB Ynys-hir Surveying Habitat Reversion at RSPB Ynys-hir

Ysgol Bro Hyddgen Community and school engagement into COBWEB and using the COBWEB app

Colin Chapman

Stephanie Ties

Barry Evans

Andy Rowland

Crona HodgesBarry Evans

Peter O’Hare

Schedule

Start Nov 2014

Nov/Dec 2014- Initial Training/Walkthrough

Some initial user feedback: User Experience and Interface

Feb 2014- Full Training & Software Development

Mar-Aug 2014- Field Testing

Scheduling of devices will need management.

Sep 2014 – Final Report