Lapis Guides

An initiative of

• Create digital field guides to support your research

• Work with the public to collect and analyze data using citizen science• Photographs • GPS locations• Time and dates• Observation notes

• Tailor field guides to suit your purposes• Scientific studies• Biodiversity conservation • Public awareness and education

• Available in multiple languages

• Available on iOS & Android

Your Portal to the World Of Citizen Science Field Guides

Lapis Guides

Case StudiesCitizen Science

Lapis Guides was created to meet the needs of projects involving citizen science. By tapping into a large group of volunteers, the volume of data that can be collected is

enormous! Our first project, the Butterflies of Kyrgyzstan, has allowed volunteers to collect distribution data on over 100 species, focused mainly in Ala Archa National Park.

Community Involvement

Enabling local people to be involved in conservation is something that we value. One project in Kyrgyzstan has involved local shepherds in the collection of records of petroglyphs and burial mounds in alpine regions where they have first hand knowledge of both the natural environment and cultural traditions and heritage.

Education

Teaching scientific concepts to students is facilitated by field-‐based opportunities. One of our Lapis Guides mini-‐apps provides students with a tool to collect data on macro-‐invertebrates in freshwater streams – which benefits conservation through monitoring and helps educate young people about nature and ecology.

Ecological Research

In conjunction with Biosphere Expeditions' Snow Leopard project, we have provided access to a number of apps to collect ecosystem-‐related data. These are now being used to help promote the protection of an alpine region of the Tianshan as a new national park in Kyrgyzstan, aiming to provide more protected habitat for vulnerable species.

Lapis Guides

Lapis Guides works through two parallel systems to create an extraordinary citizen science experience

Smartphone Apps

• For app users• Portable field guide• Data collection

• App features

• Field guide• Scalable map• User’s observations• Others’ observations

• Other settings

Web Server

• For project managers• Creating and editing apps• Data monitoring & export

• Sections to manage online

• App screen• Field guide• Settings • Users• Data• Languages

‘Citizen science’ allows multiple users (and app creators) to assess/confirm data submissions

Lapis Guides

FeaturesSample inventory of mini-apps within Lapis Guides

Main screen of the demo Butterflies of Kyrgyzstan

How the app works

Field GuideSample field guide entry in Lapis Guides mini-app (sequence of screenshots)

How the app works

MapThe map function allows precise visualization of spatial-temporal data for all sighting by all users.

Lapis Guides maps are updated with new data as users submit their sightings!

Previous data sightings can easily be searched with filters for species and specific timeframes.

Sample:

The map (to left) shows all sightings made for the Brown Argus, Aricia agestis, between May 5 and August 5, 2016.

How the app works

My Collection

(1) It acts as a storage area for sightings that have yet to be uploaded to the server (e.g. when in the field, often out of wifi range).

(2) All sightings in this section can be edited until they are uploaded to the server.

The ‘My Data’ section of the mini-app serves two primary functions:

How the app works

Citizen Science

The Citizen Science feature enables users to help scientists determine the accuracy of identifications provided by other users

Data verification tool

User votes are seen on the server as an aid for data verification

Comparisons are made between

• Photograph of a species observed (submitted by another user)

• Verified photograph of species (from the field guide)

How the app works

Upload Sighting Data

Take a photo with your phone to submit with the sighting

OR

Record a sighting without taking a photograph

OR

Upload a photograph from your photo gallery

All three options can be used even with no internet, no cell coverage, and when the airplane mode is turned on.

Any submissions made without internet are saved within the app, and ready for submission when connected in future.

Taking and uploading new observations, incl. photos

How the app works

Editing options

Field Guide Tabwww.fieldguide4all.orgEditing apps from the

web-based server

Filter data• By keyword search• By species• By date• By images attached to data

Data is downloadable in CSV format, for use in…

• Excel• R stats• QGIS, etc.

Data Tabwww.fieldguide4all.orgEditing apps from the

web-based server

Data flow

Data Access & Management

PROJECT

Updates

Map info

Field guide

New sightings

Server Data Storage

Other services

Data flow and management

Citizen Scientists

Data Access & Management

Your Project

Data access

Data collected through the app is stored in the cloud, and accessible by project managers and Lapis Guides developers

In most instances, app users will be able to see data generated through Lapis Guides mini-apps, while project managers and developers shall be able to undertake more

detailed analyses

FundingOption 1: Users have open access to the field guide

Option 2: Users pay small fee to download field guide

Project pays startup costs

$$$ Field guide is free for users to download

$ $Many users pay a small fee for field guide

Payment options

Project can pay less if the end-users will pay

Services

Training is available from the team at Lapis Guides!• Technical training in use of the app• Support for developing new guides• Data analysis and reporting

• Statistical analysis• Geographic information systems• Development of outreach materials

Our team

The team

J Marc Foggin, PhD Amadeus DeKastle, MSc Matthew Emslie-‐Smith, MSc

Lapis Guides

Education

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