Over the course of the past few months, ExCiteS have been working with Esri to create a series of online lessons that not only teach people how to use geospatial tools, but also how they may be used in the context of Citizen Science. The Challenging RISK project, which seeks to positively impact people’s preparedness for earthquakes and household fires, have been actively working with communities in Seattle, WA to try and get communities to better prepare. Researchers have worked with local groups and one theme that continues to resurface is that people want to capture data that they find important and share it with each other; this has tended to be around communities resources (e.g. people that are first aid trained, tools to share, etc.) and the identification of places that can be used for shelter.
Using this practical example, ExCiteS and Esri have built the lessons “Get Started with Survey123 for ArcGIS” in which Citizen Scientists can learn how to use Survey123 to create their own community preparedness surveys and begin to compile information on community resources. Check it out and if you have any questions, please get in touch with either ExCiteS or Challenging RISK.
Extreme Citizen Science blog 