SPOTTERON
CitSci Summer School
Last week we held a session about Design in Citizen Science at the Citizen Science Summer School by the University of Vienna, KLF and Cumberland Wildpark - read about it in our blog and download the presentation here: Citizen Science Summer School 2018
Citizen Science Summer School 2018
From 15th to 19th of October, the Citizen Science Summer School "Citizen Science in Theory and Practice" took place in "Grünau im Almtal", a small town in the south of Upper Austria. Grünau is particular famous for the KLF, the "Konrad Lorenz Reseach Station" where zoologist and Nobel Prize winner Konrad Lorenz studied animal behavior and became one of the founders of modern ethology. Not far from the research station, a whole week was dedicated to Citizen Science and many interesting workshops, sessions and collaboration teamwork took place.
Yasemin Tutav, Science et Cité
SPOTTERON brings a lot of passion and lots of expertise in the field of Citizen Science to the table, to present projects - not only in technical terms - in the right light. The websites for both schweiz-forscht.ch and ecsa-conference.eu are based on good and easy cooperation with our Austrian partners.
Taronga Zoo Sydney
Taronga Zoo Sydney is a zoo in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.It was officially opened on 7 October 1916. Taronga Zoo Sydney is managed by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales, under the trading name Taronga Conservation Society, along with its sister zoo, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Divided into eight zoogeographic regions, the 28-hectare (69-acre) Taronga Zoo Sydney is home to over 4,000 animals of 350 species. It has a zoo shop, a cafe, and information centre.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a major botanical garden located in the heart of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1816, the garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia and one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world. It is open every day of the year and access is free. Its stunning position on Sydney Harbour and immediately adjacent to the Sydney central business district, the Sydney Opera House and the large public parklands of The Domain ensure it is one of the most visited attractions in Sydney.
Release Notes
Version 2.9.0 - (Dec, 4th 2019)
• Validated data: the administrators can now set your observation to "checked" and build a validated data set for scientific research directly in the app
• Event improvement: events like workshops or community meet-ups are longer visible on the map
• Bugfixes and minor improvements
Version 2.8.0
* Event component: the project can put events and workshops on the map
* Spot filter improvement
* Bugfixes and minor updates
Version 2.7.0 - (Apr 29th 2019)
* New: Statistic Panel
* New: User Ranking 2.0
* New: Date field for new spots
* Community newsfeed icon update
* List sorting by creation date
* Bugfix: Image Editor preview size
* more minor fixes and improvements
Version 2.6.0 - (Feb 11th 2019)
* New Feature: User Roles (Data Quality Pack)
* New Feature: Flagging (Data Quality Pack)
* New Feature: Data Download (Open Data, Web-App)
* Bugfixes & Improvements
Version 2.5.0 - (Nov 7th 2018)
* New Feature: Badges (User Motivation Pack)
* Extension to Offline Maps & Spots
* Bugfixes & Improvements
Version 2.4.1 - (Oct 19th 2018)
* Bugfix for Offline Maps & Spots
Version 2.4.0 - (Oct 16, 2018)
* New Feature: Offline Maps and Spots
* New Feature: Badges (User Motivation Pack)
* New map server and map style
Version 2.3.1 - (Jul 26th 2018)
* New Feature: Top Spots (User Motivation Pack)
* GDPR Update: Download personal data directly in-app
* Bugfixes & Improvements
Version 2.2.2 - (Jun 1st 2018)
* Bugfix: presentation of the approval dialogues
* Other small improvements
Version 2.2.0 - (May 25th 2018)
EU GDPR Update:
* Read our updated terms of use. Find out about the project partners and institutes. Request a copy of your saved data. Request the deletion of your user account.
* Technical improvements
Versiom 2.1.4 - (May 5, 2018)
* Emoji support in the comments and descriptions
* Interface improvements
* Bugfixes
Version 2.0.0 - (Oct 31, 2017)
SPOTTERON MILESTONE RELEASE
* Citizen Science Community: You can now find a complete Community in the apps! Follow other Citizen Scientists, comment on spots or "like" them, find other users and stay informed with the new SPOTTERON Newsfeed!
* Authorization update: further improvements to stay logged in longer
* Small bugfixes
Version 1.0.14 - (Sep 1, 2017)
* New map to choose in the settings: Open Topo Map
* Bugfix: Logout Bug fixed
* Small improvements
Version 1.0.12 - (Aug 18, 2017)
* Messages & notifications: Receive short messages and news directly from the project and the researchers!
* Intro Update: The introscreens were updated
* Different improvements and bugfixes
Version 1.0.10 - (Jun 27, 2017)
* Edit spots: Change the position. You can now change the position of your observation in the edit-mode.
* Delete spots: In the new spot menu (detail view) you can now also delete your own observations.
* Save in the queue: You can put your observations in the waiting queue directly now and upload it later.
* Intro: Upon the first start the app shows you basic functions.
* Project update: Adjustments of the Citizen Science projects.
* Others: GPS improvements and bugfixes
Version 1.0.7 - (May 26, 2017)
* Spot counter: shows you how many spots were already added to the project
* New lightbox: You can now also zoom in the enlarged pictures
* Important bugfix for Android 7
Version 1.0.6 - (May 3, 2017)
* New map options: go to >settings >choose between the OpenStreetMap versions, Mapbox and Swisstopo (Switzerland)
* Map fix for the OSM Humanitarian Map Style
Version 1.0.5 - (Apr 26, 2017)
* Bugfixes for older smartphones
Version 1.0.3 - (Apr 23, 2017)
* Your own user-profile: upload a profile picture and support the citizen science project with more background information for the analysis.
Attention! already existing SPOTTERON users: of course you can update and extend your user-profile directly in the app.
* Spot collections: a collection of your spots is summed up in your user-profile
* Bugfixes and improvements
Version 1.0.2 - (Jan 17, 2017)
* Bugfixes
Version 1.0.0 - (Jan 16, 2017)
GENERAL RELEASE
* SPOTTERON System Upgrade
* Bugfixes
Version 0.3.0 - (Oct 13, 2016)
* Spot edits: you can now edit your own spots directly in the apps or on the interactive map on the project's website to update data and descriptions.
Version 0.2.4 - (Sep 2, 2016)
* Layout Improvements
* Bug Fixing
two features: TopSPots& MetaInfos
There have been two recent additions to the SPOTTERON Citizen Science feature ecosystem. Read up on what TopSpots & MetaInfos can do for your Citizen Science project in our most recent blog.
Two new features: Top Spots & Meta-Infos
We recently added two new feature to SPOTTERONs ever extending 'feature ecosystem'. The two most recent additions 'Top Spots' and 'Meta-Infos' can enhance better data quality and more..
offline maps shortnews
A bad internet connection will no longer be able to slow down Citizen Science with the newest SPOTTERON Feature. Learn more and see a preview of our offline maps feature in the blog article.
Video: Forum Citizen Science in Frankfurt, Germany
On 6th & 7th of September 2018, the "Forum Citizen Science" took place in Frankfurt, Germany, organised by the german Citizen Science hub "Bürger schaffen Wissen".
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”Our collaboration with SPOTTERON has been essential for our citizen science project. The ideas of our research have been efficiently implemented into the app in a simple and didactic way, thanks to the good communication and professionalism of the team.Sara Blanco Ramirez, PhD student, Hydrology and Climate
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”Mammals Atlas Kenya (MAKENYA), an operational mobile application to submit mammal sightings by citizens was launched in January 2021. I found the SPOTTERON team very magnanimous, highly professional, meticulous and committed to their work; and definitely I recommend the team to anyone interested in citizen science applications worldwide.Simon Musila, Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya
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Working with SPOTTERON for our citizen science app was the best decision our team could have made! Philipp and his team led us through the design process and helped us translate our ideas into reality. As US clients, we were surprised that there was no lag in communication due to the time difference where the SPOTTERON team works. I am convinced they work around the clock! They always responded quickly to our emails and scheduled calls to meet our schedule. I highly recommend working with SPOTTERON if you are designing a citizen science app.
Jules Bruck, University of Delaware -
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Choosing SPOTTERON for our CrowdWater project was the best decision we could have made for developing the app. Excellent implementation of our (sometimes not entirely thought through) ideas, competent advice, and a fair business model - working with SPOTTERON is a major factor why CrowdWater is working so well.
Prof. Jan Seibert, Department of Geography Hydrology and Climate, University of Zurich -
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SPOTTERON has enabled Tea Bag Index to widen our citizen scientist engagement methods and helped us to come up with ideas on how to bring soils closer to the public. It is a pleasure to work with a company who wants to create a platform that is a communication possibility for everybody involved in the project!
Dr. Taru Sandén, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety - AGES -
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Working together with Spotteron has been a smooth and fast way to get our Citizen Science project started! Their impressive experience in app building as well as in communication with citizens has proven to be invaluable and complements nicely with a team of scientists taking their first steps in citizen science!
Bram Vanthournout, Ghent University -
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GLOBAL 2000 has been working closely with Spotteron for more than 3 years. Together we have started the DreckSpotz app and are constantly developing it. The SPOTTERON team is not only incredibly competent, but above all very flexible and uncomplicated. That's why we feel extremely well looked after as an environmental organization and NGO.
Johannes Frauscher, GLOBAL 2000, Friends of Earth Austria -
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The decision to use the SPOTTERON Citizen Science platform for our participatory project can be summarized best in this way: it was possible in a short time to create a well-working and user-friendly Citizen Science app for our research. The positive feedback on our project "Landauf - LandApp" shows that involving citizens in a scientific project can be a lot of fun when using the right tool.
Daniel Fähle, National Archive Baden-Württemberg, Germany -
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The app developed by SPOTTERON is an ideal extension to our established methods and strengthens the inclusion of Citizen Scientists. The design and intuitive usability relate also to a young audience. Especially the community features make a direct feedback possible and it is especially motivating that the SPOTTERON team themselves are actively contributing in the app - a win-win situation for everyone.
Irmgard Greilhuber, Mycological Society Austria, University of Vienna -
”Working with SPOTTERON to design the app was an interesting experience for me. As an ecology PhD student, I knew how to catch Brush-turkeys and design experiments to learn about their behaviour. I knew next to nothing about how to engage with the broader community at large. SPOTTERONS’s expertise was invaluable here, they have experience in designing apps that people want to use, and balance detail with ease of function.Matthew Hall, University of Sydney
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”I've worked with loads of app developers over my career, but none so high quality as SPOTTERON. Their capabilities are astounding. They are incredibly innovative, creative and agile with a keen sense of humour and lightness. SPOTTERON apps are the benchmark of how to do citizen science well. They are elevating our ability to engage with the natural world in a meaningful way.Jen Sutfin, EarthWatch Australia
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SPOTTERON brings a lot of passion and lots of expertise in the field of Citizen Science to the table, to present projects - not only in technical terms - in the right light. The websites for both schweiz-forscht.ch and ecsa-conference.eu are based on good and easy cooperation with our Austrian partners.
Yasemin Tutav, Science et Cité -
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I’m amazed by SPOTTERON's passion for CitizenScience, impressed by their energy and initiatives and grateful for what I’ve learned by collaborating with them on the Fjällkalendern app.
Kjell Bolmgren, University of Stockholm -
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As a scientist, collaborating with SPOTTERON to create our Citizen Science App ‘Fågelbär’ was the right choice. We could focus on what type of data we want to collect and the team at SPOTTERON designed, built and are now running the App!
Matilda Arnell, University of Stockholm -
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With our SPOTTERON App Nature's Calendar ZAMG we are always technically up-to-date. As a result we are able to offer our Citizen Scientists a tool which is also appealing to today's generation without having to worry about any technical questions.
Thomas Hübner, Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik ZAMG -
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Working with SPOTTERON implies working with a professional partner on the topics of Apps & Citizen Science. I was always very pleased about the reliability, but also the openness to try new things and the possibility to exchange with competent partners. Thanks!
Dr. Dott. Didone Frigerio, University of Vienna, KLF Grünau/Almtal -
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With our project Roadkill, we were on the SPOTTERON platform since its beginnings, this way we got to witness the great development of this tool first-hand and were able to contribute in the shaping process. SPOTTERON manages the fine balance between scientific research, community management and modern design. The personal collaboration on a professional level supports the comfortable atmosphere in the project.
Florian Heigl PhD, University of Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna -
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If you are looking for a dedicated team for the development of a Citizen Science App - even if that has to happen quite fast- you are in good hands at SPOTTERON. Fast communication, straightforward coordination and running updates of the app, even after the release, characterize our successful collaboration.
Magdalena Gärtner, Center for Human-Computer Interaction, University of Salzburg -
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Through the SPOTTERON App "Was geht ab?" we were able to create an appealing and useful possibility for kids, to spot problem- and feel-good areas in their home- and school surroundings. In the SPOTTERON team we found reliable and creative partners, that care about more than just the implementation.
Juliane Stark, University of Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna -
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Thanks to the experience and the knowhow as well as the basic structure of SPOTTERON, we were able to have the CrowdWater apps developed in no time. We consider the model that allows every project to use all newly developed tools very fair and transparent. This way our apps even got some new features, we didn't even know we needed before.
Simon Etter, University of Zurich -
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Through SPOTTERON we share more than just an app infrastructure with other projects, we also share ideas. This way we get to develop and constantly improve user-friendly apps, which are easy to handle and work for many different kinds of projects.
Barbara Strobl, University of Zurich -
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To me, SPOTTERON is the successful combination of scientific claim and aesthetic design. The apps work intuitively, are extremely appealing and still fulfill all my scientific requirements when it comes to data quality and safety. Working together happens in a very loyal and trusting way and that allows us to profit from the design- and usability experience SPOTTERON has.
Daniel Dörler, University of Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna -
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What I especially like about SPOTTERON, is that we get to use many ideas and new tools that were developed for other projects in the SPOTTERON family without having to pay for them..
Klaus Wanninger, Lacon
