The Goal

We are in the design and planning phase of a new climate change-related citizen science web prototype (related to "UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts"). The prototype will be a mobile-friendly website that allows citizens to take and submit photos and other “ground truth” observations to the Trusted Authorities, during /after wildfires/bush fires. This information can be used to help the authorities assess and predict the wildfires/bush fires or disaster scope and impact.

Climate change is a key factor in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires around the world. We are developing a citizen science prototype for people living in fire prone areas to help predict the likelihood of wildfire and minimize their devastating effects. We would like you to adapt our existing Citizen Science Observation rules for Floods, to wildfires/bush fires.

The goal is to identify the rules and approach that are needed to let members of the public (safely!) provide citizen-made observations/data to Fire Managers and help them better protect resources, infrastructure, and environment by providing better situational awareness, particularly near inhabited areas. Scope:

• Review our existing approach and rules for citizen scientist observations made during a flood. Identify ways to let citizen scientists gather information from the ground (SAFELY!) during a fire, so Fire Managers can classify uncontrolled, very large wildfires which do the most damage/pose the most risk.
• Examine the situation in places with history of large forest fires, such as USA, Canada and Australia.
• Identify any gaps between our approach to citizen science during a forest fire, or during a flood.
• Conduct research on existing wildfires/bush fires citizen science applications
• Develop a set of wildfire observation rules that are needed and can be made by citizen scientists

We will meet students on a regular schedule, and as necessary to provide guidance and suggested research.