Citizen Science Platforms
Strategies for choosing a platform
Designing custom solutions
Using existing platforms
Mash-up (use existing platform like Google Form for a Cit Sci project)
The following list summarizes the key consideration for selecting a citizen science platform.
1. Write out your goals and determine your resources.
2. Consider ideas for the long term, but start with a minimum viable product.
3. Search for potential partnerships.
4. Profile your users and decide how many you will need, how you plan to attract them.
5. Consider the following barriers and special needs for the platform features.
6. Explore strategies to bridge the dialogue between geeks and scientists.
7. Consider how the data need to be reported.
Check out these specific platforms for data collection, management, and sharing.
PlatformTypeLink
iNaturalistCit Sci Platformhttp://inaturalist.org
OpenStreetMapSpatial Data Repository (only some data is appropriate for OSM)http://openstreetmap.org
HubnetCit Sci Platformhttp://HubNet.nationalfield.org
eBirdCit Sci Platformhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/
SciStarterCit Sci Platformhttps://scistarter.com/
Instagram/Twitter - use a specific hashtag to filterSocial Media Alternatives
FormhubResearch and Data Collectionhttps://formhub.org/
Open Data KitResearch and Data Collectionhttps://opendatakit.org/
Datahub.ioData Repositoryhttp://datahub.io
Google Forms / Google SheetsData Collection and Managementhttps://www.google.com/forms/about/
Google Fusion TablesReportinghttps://support.google.com/fusiontables/answer/2571232?hl=en
Carto.com*Reporting/ Mappinghttps://carto.com/
JotForm.com*Data Collection and Managementhttps://www.jotform.com/
* Free version with paid features; all other platforms are free!
NOTE: To find free software, use http://alternativeto.net/. Simply type in the software you want to replace and it will return a list of alternatives, sometimes there are free versions.
Feel free to reach out to Ryan Thomas if you have questions about these platforms.https://hackpad.com/Citizen-Science-Platforms-3kVUiqbZi0U
- Thanks for attending everyone! Feel free to add to the table or list below if you like!
- hackpad.com/Citizen-Science-Platforms-3kVUiqbZi0U
Strategies for choosing a platform
Designing custom solutions
Using existing platforms
Mash-up (use existing platform like Google Form for a Cit Sci project)
The following list summarizes the key consideration for selecting a citizen science platform.
1. Write out your goals and determine your resources.
- No cit sci platform is right for every project. Your goals and budget will determine your options.
2. Consider ideas for the long term, but start with a minimum viable product.
- Choosing a free platform is a convenient way to test out your idea. However, free platforms can change without much input from users, so they might not be a good choice for the long term. Choose a #stable platform if you can.
3. Search for potential partnerships.
4. Profile your users and decide how many you will need, how you plan to attract them.
- Consider latching on to an existing user base - such as Galaxy Zoo.
- Decide if you have appropriately set barriers to entry for users.
5. Consider the following barriers and special needs for the platform features.
- Language barriers
- Meta data of the platform is key and without it there is a danger in using the data.
- Find out how people are already collecting data (if they are).
- Keeping people engaged outside of crises.
6. Explore strategies to bridge the dialogue between geeks and scientists.
- Hack-a-thons, Data Hacks, Data Analysis Challenges, and the like
- Corporate social responsibility - tap in to tech companies willing to work for free.
- Partner with other organizations to maximize cyber infrastrucutre
7. Consider how the data need to be reported.
- The intended outcome of the project will determine the level of credibility needed. For example, data reported to policy makers needs to be demonstrably very high quality.
Check out these specific platforms for data collection, management, and sharing.
PlatformTypeLink
iNaturalistCit Sci Platformhttp://inaturalist.org
OpenStreetMapSpatial Data Repository (only some data is appropriate for OSM)http://openstreetmap.org
HubnetCit Sci Platformhttp://HubNet.nationalfield.org
eBirdCit Sci Platformhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/
SciStarterCit Sci Platformhttps://scistarter.com/
Instagram/Twitter - use a specific hashtag to filterSocial Media Alternatives
FormhubResearch and Data Collectionhttps://formhub.org/
Open Data KitResearch and Data Collectionhttps://opendatakit.org/
Datahub.ioData Repositoryhttp://datahub.io
Google Forms / Google SheetsData Collection and Managementhttps://www.google.com/forms/about/
Google Fusion TablesReportinghttps://support.google.com/fusiontables/answer/2571232?hl=en
Carto.com*Reporting/ Mappinghttps://carto.com/
JotForm.com*Data Collection and Managementhttps://www.jotform.com/
* Free version with paid features; all other platforms are free!
NOTE: To find free software, use http://alternativeto.net/. Simply type in the software you want to replace and it will return a list of alternatives, sometimes there are free versions.
Feel free to reach out to Ryan Thomas if you have questions about these platforms.https://hackpad.com/Citizen-Science-Platforms-3kVUiqbZi0U