Geocaching Natural Features - Applying Game Mechanics to Citizen Science Data Collection

ScienceCache is a scientific geocaching mobile application framework that targets two user groups for citizen science data collection: youth and geocachers. By melding training and games into the hunt for place-based data collection sites and incorporating photo uploads as data and authentication, new volunteers can collaborate in robust data collection. Scientists build a project on the administrative Web site app, specifying locations or goals for new data collection sites, clues for established sites, questions to answer, measurements, or other activities for the site based on their individual data needs. The project builds on the success of the USA National Phenology Network (NPN) and the ScienceBase project to develop an enabling technology for citizen science and Federal data collection efforts. Two reference implementations, assessing phenology of bear foods in Glacier National Park and evaluating tree invasion into alpine meadows using repeat photography, will allow the project team to apply lessons-learned to future efforts. The project also seeks to develop new workflows allowing for more rapid project approval and data acquisition for government citizen science efforts.

Since the beginning of the project, the project team has encountered many scientists with an interest in using ScienceCache to collect data as part of their work. Potential data collection includes blueberry phenology, pollinator ecology, and fungi data collection.

Principal Investigator : Tabitha A Graves, John L Long
Cooperator/Partner : Tim Kern, Jake Weltzin