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Citizen Science Webinars

These webinar recordings are from the Forest Service Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Community of Practice (FSCCS). During the first two years (2015-2017), the Community was internal and those webinars are made available to external audiences here for informational purposes. Currently, the community of practice is open to all audiences and new webinar recordings will be updated regularly*.

To find out more, please sign up for our mailing list: www.eepurl.com/c5H8db

*Forest Service employees: for the full list of resources, internal links, and presentation materials for each webinar, visit the Citizen Science SharePoint page or send an email to sm.fs.fsccs@usda.gov.

 

Forest Service Crowdsourcing & Citizen Science Community of Practice (FSCCS)

Community Science for Watershed Improvement

Date: April 28, 2021 

Community Science for the Watershed Improvement Recording: View Recording 

Description: The presenter will discuss the project, Gully Busters – Erosion Mapping in the Verde Watershed. This project was collaboratively developed with the Coconino National Forest Red Rock Ranger District to train community scientists on identifying and mapping areas of accelerated erosion on the ranger district. This project is a 2020 Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program awardee.

Presenter:  Elaine Nichols, Restoration Project Manager, Friends of the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ

Volunteer Opportunities in the Verde Watershed 

Date: June 18, 2021 

Volunteer Opportunities with Friends of the Verde River 2021-2022 Recording: View Recording 

Description: The presenter discusses volunteer opportunities with Friends of the Verde River. Opportunities include habitat restoration, community science, and events. Volunteers are critical to support a healthy Verde River system and recruitment is ongoing. More information is available here. 

Presenters:

  • Nancy L.C. Steele, D.Env., Executive Director, Friends of the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ
  • Elaine Nichols, Restoration Project Manager, Friends of the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ
  • Melanie Miles, Events Manager, Friends of the Verde River, Cottonwood, AZ

Date: December 8, 2021

Webinar Recording: View Part 1, View Part 2

Description: Join us for a webinar and sharing session focused on several of the Forest Service Citizen/Community Science projects that serve and support Indigenous communities!  These highlighted projects were funded in previous years from the Forest Service’s CitSci Fund.

The webinar will include remarks from the Acting National Program Lead for Tribal Research, a brief overview and history of the Forest Service Citizen Science Program, and presentations on several projects that involve citizen/community science, Indigenous communities, and the Forest Service.  A panel discussion will follow the project teams' presentations.

Presenters:

  • Jonathan Long, Acting National Program Lead for Tribal Research, Forest Service
  • Michelle Tamez, Inaugural Forest Service Citizen Science Program Coordinator (currently National Reforestation Partnership Coordinator) , Forest Service
  • Nanebah Lyndon, Tribal Relations Staff Officer, Kaibab National Forest, Forest Service
  • Dr. Sara Souther, Northern Arizona University
  • Adelaide (Di) Johnson, Ph.D., Hydrologist, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service
  • Stormy Hamar, Haida Native Carver
  • Christian Giardina, Research Ecologist, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service
  • Leilā Dudley, Program Coordinator, Teaching Change
  • Chloe Martins-Keliihoomalu, Community Science Coordinator, ʻŌhiʻa Disease Resistance Program, Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests
  • Kainana Francisco, Natural Resource Specialist, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service
  • Michelle Baumflek, Research Biologist, Southern Research Station, Forest Service
  • Kathryn Baer, Ph.D., Research Ecologist, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service

Date: September 15, 2021

Webinar Recording: https://www.fs.usda.gov/eng/webinars/chronolog/chronolog.html

Description: Chronolog is a photo point monitoring tool that serves multiple purposes through connections to citizen science, scientific research of changes in landscapes, as well as interpretation, visitor experiences, and education. With a simple, accessible workflow for participants, Chronolog supports consistent visual capture of a landscape through a standardized, fixed bracket at the site that orients a participant’s phone in a direction intended by the site owner. Chronolog is currently used by the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to monitor for landscape changes related to restoration projects, fire (including prescribed fire), invasive species, erosion, and more.

Presenters:

  • Jake Rose, Coordinator, Chronolog.
  • Laura Brennan, Biologist, National Park Service.

Also See:

Date: May 27, 2020

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

There is a lot of diversity in and amongst Latino communities, which makes having a tailored approach to outreach very important when trying to engage communities in citizen science. This presentation will highlight the different tools and tactics used to engage communities in citizen science in the DC metro area and in Puerto Rico and the lessons learned along the way.

Presenters:

  • Chelsea Mervenne, Director of Environmental Programs, Corazón Latino.
  • Melanie Quiñones Santiago, Environmental Scientist and Community Engagement Leader, pursing an M.S. in Natural Resources at Cornell University with a concentration in Community-based Natural Resources Management.
  • Christopher Nytch, Ecologist and Educator, Friends of El Yunque Foundation.

During the meeting the question of sensitivity of the term citizen science came up because the word "citizen" may be exclusionary to some volunteers. Some organizations have adopted the term community science in it's place. These terms are unique but can also overlap in practice. Some more information for reference:

A Working Definition of Community Science - Communities and Scientists Working Together: American Geophysical Union Video

Terms Related to Citizen Science Document: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/terms-related-citsci.pdf

Date: May 22, 2020

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

The presenters will discuss a pilot study to evaluate the utility of combining data sources from Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions and eBird citizen science program, to develop distribution models for rare and common songbird species. The Kaibab National Forest Land Management Plan identifies two songbirds as focal species that represent desired habitat features on the landscape, however, the standard monitoring protocols may not provide sufficient information regarding the status of one these species. If successful, this type of modelling could be used to inform decision making during land management project planning and design.

Presenters:

  • Valerie Stein Foster, Wildlife Biologist, Enterprise Program, USDA Forest Service.
  • Jamie Sanderlin, Quantitative Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service.

Also See:

During the meeting the question of sensitivity of the term citizen science came up because the word "citizen" may be exclusionary to some volunteers. Some organizations have adopted the term community science in it's place. These terms are unique but can also overlap in practice. Some more information for reference:

Date: May 13, 2020

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

The presenters will discuss the project, Citizen Science for Rangeland Health: Engaging Ranchers in Science, and share lessons learned. This was a collaboratively developed monitoring project among local ranchers who are permittees on the San Juan National Forest, the Dolores Ranger District, and Colorado State University Extension. This project is a 2018 Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program awardee.

Presenters:

  • Corey Ertl, Range Management Specialist, San Juan National Forest, Region 2, USDA Forest Service.
  • Retta Bruegger, Regional Specialist Range Management, Colorado State University Extension out of Grand Junction, CO.

Date: July 29, 2019

Webinar Recording: https://youtu.be/b3Cu6m_JwYc

Please join Corazón Latino, Fundación Amigos de El Yunque and the USDA Forest Service, for a brown bag presentation with Christopher Nytch, Project Leader with Fundación Amigos de El Yunque and affiliated investigator with the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus Environmental Sciences Department, on the exciting citizen science and community engagement work happening on El Yunque National Forest (EYNF) in Puerto Rico. This program is part of EYNF's revised forest management plan.

Presenter:

  • Christopher Nytch, Project Leader, Fundación Amigos de El Yunque; affiliated investigator, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPRRP) Environmental Sciences Department.

Slides: July29th Slides

Date: October 17, 2018

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Presentation PDF:  

2019_citsci_fund_presentation_pdf.pdf (3.11 MB)

 

The Forest Service is responsible for managing national forests and grasslands in a way that delivers benefits to the public and sustains healthy ecosystems. In 2017, the agency launched the Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program (CitSci Fund), to promote collaboration in support of these goals by bringing together partners, volunteers, and the Forest Service in pursuit of sound science and meaningful community engagement. In year two of the Fund, we are emphasizing shared learning and developing an incubator model that supports projects in all phases of maturity. Three levels of funding will be available for 2019: Ideation ($10,000), Project Development and Implementation ($25,000), and Ongoing Project ($10,000).

In this webinar, we will describe the goals of the CitSci Fund, share what we learned from year one, demonstrate the new online application for year two, and have plenty of time for questions.

Presenters:

  • Michelle Tamez, Agency Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Coordinator, USDA Forest Service.

Date: May 10, 2019

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Join us for a robust discussion about innovative collaborations and case studies developed through a partnership between Trout Unlimited and the Forest Service. We will share examples of successful projects, tools such as partnership agreements, and how this model of volunteer monitoring can be expanded across other resource areas and throughout the nation to connect communities to their public lands and waters.

Projects and tools include:

  • Stream Restoration Collaboration.
  • Angler Science.
  • Trout Unlimited Citizen Science Framework.
  • TU and USFS Master Agreement.
  • Forest Service Citizen Science Toolkit and Fund.

With remarks from Trout Unlimited and Forest Service leadership:

  • Tina Terrell, Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest System, USDA Forest Service.
  • Helen Neville, Senior Scientist, Trout Unlimited.

Presenters:

  • Jake Lemon, Eastern Angler Science Coordinator, Trout Unlimited
  • Michelle Tamez, Inventory, Agency Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Coordinator, USDA Forest Service

Slides: May 10th Slides

Date: ​August 8, 2018

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

We will walk through the main components of the 2018 "Forest Service Citizen Science Toolkit: A Guide to Planning Your Project" and the companion "Project Plan Template". These documents are intended to help teams think through planning a successful citizen science project. The Toolkit provides guidance specific to the Forest Service and is intended to assist Forest Service employees and partner organizations in developing project plans. This toolkit also clarifies the 2017 Crowdsourcing and Citizen Act and builds upon on other citizen science tool-kits such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Toolkit. This 2018 version that will be improved as we receive feedback from you. Current practitioners will walk us through their completed Project Plans and highlight useful features.

Presenters:

  • Leslie Weldon, National Forest System Deputy Chief, USDA Forest Service.
  • Michelle Tamez, Agency Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Coordinator, USDA Forest Service.
  • Tim Farris, Trail Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Ranger District; "Neighbors to Nature: Cache Creek Study.

Date: April 4, 2018

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Volunteers and service participants accomplish countless projects and provide expertise, perspective, and helping hands in the work that the Forest Service does for the nation. Volunteers are essential to the agency's mission of delivering benefits to the American people. Help us celebrate our volunteers through communication efforts and events in April 2018.

Presenters:

  • Mary Biggs, Resource Assistants Program Liaison, Volunteer & Service staff, Washington Office, USDA Forest Service.

Also see:

Date: ​February 7, 2018

Webinar Recording: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/pdeerlatdnz2/--> (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

In crowdsourcing – an open call for volunteers to provide information or help solve a problem – researchers and managers can tackle complex challenges by conducting scientific studies and monitoring at large geographic scales and over long periods of time in ways that professional scientists alone cannot easily duplicate. This approach also provides people with hands-on, engaging experiences in science, and creates a sense of community and ownership in solutions. Although crowdsourcing as a concept is not new, in recent years, the ubiquity of geospatially-enabled mobile technology has made crowdsourcing more accessible than ever.

Recognizing the value of these projects and the need to better understand how these practices are being used, the Forest Service conducted an assessment in 2017, Crowdsourced Geospatial Data in the Forest Service. This webinar will describe the information gathered from a project review, Agency survey, and in-depth interviews with Agency project leads. We will also have a discussion about the steps the Agency is recommending to advance crowdsourcing efforts in the Forest Service.

Presenters:

  • Tim Love, Assistant Program Lead, Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, USDA Forest Service.
  • Abbey Schaaf, Remote Sensing Project Manager, RedCastle Resources contractor, onsite at the Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, USDA Forest Service.

Also see:

Date: ​December 5, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

A timely presentation and discussion, December's USFS Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science webinar is on two efforts that are using the knowledge of the crowd to respond to critical information needs when disasters strike.  

Operationalizing Crowdsourcing at FEMA in Response to the 2017 Hurricanes

During the 2017 hurricane season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operationalized crowdsourcing at the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) by coordinating existing and new crowdsourcing efforts with Digital Volunteer Networks as well as organizing a FEMA Disaster Hackathon. These efforts that engaged over 5,700 volunteers, have shown that leveraging crowdsourced data, tools, and services can enhance situational awareness, decision-making, and inform machine learning and artificial intelligence for emergency management.

Smoke Sense – A Crowd Sourced Study of Health Impacts of Wildland Fire Smoke Exposures

Exposure to particles and gasses found in wildfire smoke are linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, negatively influencing well-being and productivity in the affected communities. The Smoke Sense Study is a citizen science, crowdsourcing initiative that leverages observations and insights about wildland fire smoke from individuals across the country to help inform what we know about these exposures. The Smoke Sense app was piloted during the latter part of the 2017 fire season. In just a few weeks, over 4,500 individuals participated in the study. This presentation will cover the protocol and features of the app itself, as well as interim results from the pilot season. Additionally, we will share initial plans for the next version of the Smoke Sense app, and emerging research studies that are part of the broader Smoke Sense initiative.

Presenters:

  • Dr. Sophia Liu, Innovation Specialist, U.S. Geological Survey, Science and Decisions Center.
  • Dr. Ana Rappold, Statistician, and Dr. Mary Clare Hano, postdoctoral scholar, EPA, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Public Health Division.

Also see:

Date: ​October 4, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

You're invited to learn about the new U.S. Forest Service Washington Office Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program – CitSci Fund.

After a successful first year of the Forest Service Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Community of Practice, it's time to gear up for year two. One of our goals is to "inspire new and expand existing projects". Now that we have the knowledge under our belts, it's time to put it to practice!

The Ecosystem Management Coordination staff is investing $100,000 of FY '18 funds for up to 5 projects through a competitive proposal process. The goal is for projects to demonstrate the value of citizen science for delivering USFS mission results. Specifically, increased collection and analysis of usable data and information, and enhanced collaboration between units and stakeholders.

Presenters:

  • Chris French, Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, USDA Forest Service Washington Office.
  • Michelle Tamez, Agency Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Coordinator, Ecosystem Management Coordination, USDA Forest Service Washington Office.

Date: ​September 6, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Experts will share how their Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) projects are using citizen science approaches to advance their multi-party monitoring goals.

The Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in Arizona is using citizen science for stream temperature monitoring, wet/dry mapping perennial streams, and spring surveys. Learn how they are developing and fostering relationships with local non-profits. http://www.4fri.org/

The Southwestern Crown Collaborative in Montana has collaboratively developed Adopt-a-Stream and School Stream Monitoring programs that engage the local public and students in monitoring. Learn how these examples are creating shared ownership and youth engagement through citizen science. https://www.swcrown.org/

Presenters:

  • Lindsay Buchanan, CFLRP Coordinator, USDA Forest Service Washington Office.
  • Cory Davis, Coordinator for the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Collaborative, Research Associate in the University of Montana's College of Forestry and Conservation.
  • Joann Wallenburn, Aquatics Director, Clearwater Resource Council, partner on the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Collaborative.
  • Dick Fleishman, Operations Coordinator for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, Coconino National Forest.

Also see:

Date: June 7, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Citizen science projects, by definition, are opportunities to engage volunteers. Learn basic requirements for engaging Forest Service volunteers, and get tips for managing large projects and recognizing participants for their contributions. Funding opportunities for citizen science projects will also be discussed.

Carmen Young is the volunteer coordinator in the Office of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources in Washington, D.C. and is the agency contact for National Public Lands Day, a national day of service which engages the public in education, recreation, and stewardship activities.

Join us after the FSCCS presentation for an open conversation that will allow us to build the community for our community of practice. During this time you can: get to know others in the agency that are interested in citizen science and crowdsourcing, share project highlights, ask questions of the group, get feedback from other members in the community, and help us to meet your needs for future sessions. This conversation will be led by the FSCCS team:

Presenters:

  • Carmen Young, Volunteer Coordinator, Office of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources, Washington Office, USDA Forest Service.
  • Allison Cisneros, Volunteer Coordinator, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, USDA Forest Service.

Also see:

Date: May 3, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Ron Goode, Chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe, and Jonathan Long, a Forest Service Research Ecologist discuss their collaborative efforts to integrate traditional tribal knowledge into National Forest restoration in the central Sierra Nevada of California. They have collaborated on research publications that explain the ecological and cultural importance of restoring California black oak groves and associated meadow communities and how traditional knowledge can inform monitoring and on-the-ground restoration. They will discuss how such collaborations can complement more general citizen science and environmental justice efforts, and how those lessons can be extended through other partnerships involving tribes and National Forests.

Presenters:

  • Ron Goode, Chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe.
  • Jonathan Long, Research Ecologist, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service.
  • Fred Clark, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations, Washington Office, USDA Forest Service.
  • Tasha Lo Porto, of the Environmental Justice Board, Washington Office, USDA Forest Service.

Also see:

Date: March 1, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Observation Error in Citizen Science Urban Tree Inventories

USFS researcher Lara Roman will present findings from a four-city study of volunteer observation errors in street tree inventories, breaking down results for each variable, discussing implications for appropriate uses of citizen science in urban forestry, and highlighting ways the training and field methods could be changed to improve volunteer performance.

Addressing Data Quality in Public Participation STEM Research Projects

NSF established strategic investment in Public Participation in STEM Research (PPSR) as a FY16-17 Agency Priority Goal. As the field grows, new concerns and approaches regarding data quality continue to arise. Program director Ellen McCallie will discuss some ways data quality is addressed at NSF, and AAAS Fellow Timna Wyckoff will share some examples from the literature of ways that researchers are ensuring that the data collected by PPSR can make productive contributions to research outcomes.

Date: November 30, 2016

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Presentation Slides:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_wysiwyg/fsccs_113016.pdf

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_wysiwyg/yfmpcasestudypresentation16.pdf

Part I: Intro to Policy

The U.S. Forest Service 2012 Planning Rule lays out a vision for a public participation process that involves all members of the community and partners throughout the three phase land management planning process and implementation of the resulting land management plan (forest plan). This will provide an overview of some of the direction for the implementation of the Rule that supports citizen science and crowdsourcing practices.

Part II: Case Study – Youth Forest Monitoring Program, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

One example of citizen science is the Youth Forest Monitoring Program, now in its 17th year at the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. See how youth are sharing their data and their voice as the Forest begins its 3rd year of plan revision. We will discuss how student data is used by forest scientists, provide suggestions for finding strong local support, and share ideas for continuing to engage with youth as they move on beyond the project.

Presenters:

  • Michelle Tamez: Science Delivery Specialist, USDA. Forest Service Washington Office – Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff.
  • Liz Burke: Youth Forest Monitoring Program Coordinator, USDA Forest Service Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Also see:

Date: Sept. 21, 2016

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Recently, Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science and (CCS)—forms of open collaboration where volunteers participate in the scientific process—have seen exponential growth in the United States across a wide range of disciplines. CCS have contributed to many articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and informed natural resource management decisions and policies across the nation and across the Forest Service.

The goal of the Forest Service Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Community of Practice (FSCCS) is to create a virtual meeting space where participants can network and learn from colleagues, get connected to resources and information, and be inspired to develop new or expand their own citizen science and crowdsourcing projects. Presenters will serve as experts on their topics and are open to questions and dialogue with participants, while also benefiting from the knowledge of the group. 

Presenters:

  • Michelle Tamez, Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Implementation Specialist, Ecosystem Management Coordination, Washington, DC.
  • Daniel Silvas, Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Ecosystem Management Coordination, Ft. Collins, CO.
  • Tricia Suchodolski, knowledge Management Officer, Business Operations, Washington, DC.

 

ArcGIS Online Tools For Citizen Science

Date: June 29, 2020

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

During normal times, managing volunteer field operations can be challenging, but during COVID-19 figuring out how to motivate and keep citizen scientists engaged and do so in compliance with health and safety regulations adds another layer of complexity. Join us to learn how ArcGIS Online* apps can be used to engage with volunteers and quickly capture field data. 

  • Update from the Forest Service Volunteers & Service Program.
  • Volunteer retention – How to keep volunteers engaged via using ArcGIS StoryMaps.
  • Field data collection – Utilize ArcGIS QuickCapture to easily create mobile apps to support new projects to keep volunteers engaged.
  • Volunteer safety – Easy to use check in and check out mobile apps for proximity analysis supporting identification of potential exposures.

Presenters:

  • Barbara McGuinness, Volunteers & Service Program, USDA Forest Service.
  • Charmel Menzel, Solution Engineer, Esri.
  • T.C. Christensen, Geospatial Technology and Application Center, USDA Forest Service.

*Note: ArcGIS Online requires a paid membership but Forest Service employees and partners working with us on a project, are able to access the Forest Service Enterprise License. We will have Forest Service staff on hand to answer any technical questions that come up regarding access to the Enterprise License.

Additional Links:

Date: November 2, 2016

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Government, nonprofit, and independent researchers increasingly use crowdsourced data for scientific understanding, exploration, and discovery. Having citizens act as sensors provides rich, location-based datasets. Esri understands the need for tools to assist researchers in creating ready-to-use apps for data collection. Charmel Menzel will cover the ArcGIS apps that are currently available to us for crowdsourcing and citizen science.

Presenters:

  • Charmel Menzel, GISP, is a GIS Solution Engineer on the Esri National Government Team. In her position, Charmel enjoys working with customers in determining the best options from the ArcGIS Platform for their project. She has been with Esri since 2001. Prior to Esri, Charmel earned her M.S. in Geography from University of South Carolina and worked for the World Wildlife Fund.

Also see:

Date: Jan. 24, 2017

Webinar Recording: https://vimeo.com/201301263 (Note: There are some audio issues at the beginning of the recording)

We start by introducing you to the technical support network of the USFS with an overview of the CIO and GMO. Plan to attend this webinar if you are new to ArcGIS Online or want to know the latest on Web GIS and how ArcGIS Online supports the creation of location based information products. The first in a series of tech transfers focusing on how to create and manage crowdsourcing and citizen science apps, this webinar is an ArcGIS Online overview. The capabilities to be covered include analysis, smart mapping, data enrichment, and communicating your project initiatives using a rich set of configurable templates.

Presenters:

  • Tim Clark: Esri Solution Engineer, is the primary technical resource providing Esri software expertise for the account management team managing the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service.  Tim also supports the Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior.  Tim has worked with Esri technology since 1987 in different roles and market sectors including local government, private consulting, federal government and for the last 19+ years with Esri.

Also see:

Date: April 26, 2017

Webinar Recording: mp4 video was too large to upload here.

Continuing the series of tech transfers about how to collect, manage, analyze, and visualize crowdsourcing and citizen science project with ArcGIS tools, this next session focuses on easily creating forms to get your project off the ground. This webinar will help you understand the benefits of public participation in scientific research. Christine Buckel from NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science will describe their citizen science app collecting crowd sourced water level information informing weather and model predications, and providing data to scientists and the public. Charmel Menzel, Esri, will provide tips on getting started. We will give a recap of ArcGIS data collection apps, a NOAA example of GeoForm data collection embedded into a Story Map, and show how to create your first GeoForm app: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=931653256fd24301a84fc77955914a82

Presenters:

  • Charmel Menzel: GIS Solution Engineer on the Esri National Government Team based in Vienna, VA. Charmel has worked with ArcGIS technology since 1994 first being introduced to GIS while working at the World Wildlife Fund and then cementing her desire to pursue a career in GIS while supporting a federal contract. During her tenure at Esri, Charmel has worked with state, local and federal agencies.
  • Christine Buckel: Ecologist at NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science located in Beaufort, NC. She has been with NOAA since 2001. Christine utilizes GIS while working on a variety of topics, including endangered species, fish & habitat conservation, and sea level rise.

Also see:

Date: July 19, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Continuing the series of tech transfers on how to collect, manage, analyze and visualize crowdsourcing and citizen science projects with ArcGIS tools, this next session focuses on creating a publicly available data collection app using Survey123 for ArcGIS.

Presenters:

  • Esther Godson and Damien Hoffman: USFS National Technology & Development Program. They will discuss the Accessible Feature Survey FSAD app created by the Outdoor Recreation For Everyone team. The project collects USFS Accessibility data for outdoor recreation sites from employees and volunteers utilizing Survey123.
  • Charmel Menzel: Esri, will get you started with Survey123 and show you how to take advantage of the ArcGIS platform to analyze and visualize your data. These apps will work on a smartphone, laptop, or desktop as a native app and in a web browser.

Also see:

Date: October 18, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Collector for ArcGIS is a map-centric mobile app that can be shared with the public for crowdsourcing and citizen science projects. Use Collector for ArcGIS online or offline to create and edit information in the field.

Presenters:

  • Dan Kipervaser will discuss two recent citizen science projects that used Collector for ArcGIS. These projects were within the Forest Service's Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), a 2.4 million acre ponderosa pine restoration project located in Arizona. One project centers on ephemeral stream surveys that use citizen scientists to identify areas with compromised bank structure and other signs of degraded function. This data helps identify areas of concern and allows resource specialists to use their time field more efficiently. The second project is a long term monitoring program modeled after The Nature Conservancy's wet/dry mapping project for the San Pedro River. Here, citizen scientists follow a series of interrupted perennial streams within the 4FRI project area, recording the location and length of wet stream segments during the driest part of the season. Over time, this data will provide a view into the condition of these stream systems and will help land managers understand the effects of forest restoration treatments on surface and groundwater availability.
  • Charmel Menzel, Esri, will provide an overview of capabilities and show how to create web maps for deployment on Collector apps. Guidance on which ArcGIS App to utilize for your project will be discussed. When to use Collector for ArcGIS or Survey123 for ArcGIS?

Also see:

Date: June 5, 2018

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Continuing the series of tech transfers about how to collect, manage, analyze, and visualize crowdsourcing and citizen science projects with ArcGIS tools, this session will cover how to make informed recommendations using geospatially referenced data. ArcGIS spatial analytics allow you to understand geographic relationships and patterns of where and what is occurring in your world. It goes beyond mere mapping to let you study the characteristics of places and the relationships between them. This webinar will cover how to begin computational analysis of geographic patterns utilizing the crowdsourcing project case study, Ocala Trash Hound from the Ocala National Forest in Florida. 

Presenters:

  • Charmel Menzel, Esri Solutions Engineer.
  • Kathy Bronson, GIS Specialist, Ocala National Forest.

Also see:

Date: June 12, 2018

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Continuing the series of tech transfers about how to collect, manage, analyze, and visualize crowdsourcing and citizen science projects with ArcGIS tools, this next session focuses on how ArcGIS Story Maps web applications can help you communicate effectively. Whether you want to motivate the public to participate or promote the analytical results of your project, these ready-to-use configurable templates make it easy to combine interactive maps with multimedia content to tell a place-based story.

ArcGIS Story Maps popularity is growing exponentially with nearly a half million public story maps published in 2017 but not all story maps are equally as effective. Learn how to get started and lessons learned on creating effective stories.

 

Presenters:

  • Charmel Menzel, Esri Solutions Engineer.
  • Forest Service Washington Office introductions by: Mary Biggs, Volunteers and Service; Ashley Newson, Travel, Tourism, and Interpretation; and Michelle Tamez, Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.

Also see:

 

More Webinars

Date: December 15, 2015

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Recently, citizen science and crowdsourcing (CSC)—forms of open collaboration where members of the public participate in the scientific process—have seen explosive growth in the United States across a wide range of disciplines. CSC are growing and innovative fields that have been applied to everything from ecology and environmental education to human health and space exploration. CSC have contributed to many articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and informed natural resource management decisions and policies across the nation. The goal of this webinar is to deepen our understanding of CSC and to show the value and potential of working with volunteers in advancing our mission.

Presenters:

  • Jamie Barbour: U.S. Forest Service Washington Office – Ecosystem Management Coordination, Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Strategy Implementation Team Lead.
  • Duncan McKinley, PhD: U.S. Forest Service Washington Office – Research & Development, Policy Analysis Staff.

Research Publication: https://www.esa.org/esa/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Issue19.pdf

Date: January 28, 2016

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science and education program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. Join us to explore ways the Forest Service can connect to GLOBE for citizen science, education, and community engagement.

Presenters:

  • Susan Cox: Conservation Education Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service State & Private Forestry, Northeastern Area.
  • Jennifer Bourgeault: U.S. Country Coordinator, University of New Hampshire GLOBE Partnership Coordinator, The GLOBE Program.

Also see:

GLOBE Training Webinar: https://www.globe.gov/get-trained/protocol-etraining.

Date: February 28, 2016

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Note: This webinar was for a specific funding opportunity but contains a good tutorial about how to host a bioblitz.

In 2016 the National Geographic Society (NGS) and USDA Forest Service (FS) teamed up to host BioBlitzes across the United States. A BioBlitz is an outdoor citizen science activity where teams of scientists, students, teachers, and community members work together to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, and other organisms as possible. BioBlitz events are a fun and meaningful way to connect people to public lands. During the webinar, participants learned how to share science and interpretive skills by participating in a scheduled BioBlitz across the country or hosting their own bioblitz. Staff from National Geographic also shared a toolkit of fun and successful public outreach tools that are available for all BioBlitz participants.

Presenters:

  • Cindy McArthur: USDA Forest Service Washington Office – National Partnership Office.
  • Mary Ford Senior: Manager, Experiences National Geographic.

Also see:

Resources Mentioned During the Session:

Date: January 20, 2017

Webinar Recording:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

  • Lisa Myers, Urban Connections and Conservation Education Program Coordinator, Region9, USFS-Purpose of our community of practice and announcements.
  • Michelle Tamez, Agency Citizen Science Coordinator, USFS, - Intro to Forest Service Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Community of Practice.
  • Lara Roman, Research Ecologist, Philadelphia Field Station, USFS – Findings from her study of volunteer data quality for street tree inventories.
  • Matteo Garbelotto, UC Berkeley Forest Pathology and Mycology Laboratory & CNPS – Sudden oak death blitz citizen science program in northern California.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/citizen-science/webinars