Carmen Skarlupka • almost 12 years ago
Safe Water
Looking for a team interested in building an app that will provide users with local or GIS lookup of beachs to provide timely and accurate water safety data. To include fish and shellfish toxicology data.
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4 comments
Eric Thomas • almost 12 years ago
What skill sets are you looking for?
What kind of an application are you looking to build? I presume a mobile one, and if so which OS?
Carmen Skarlupka • almost 12 years ago
Hello, E01010100,
Ideally, would love to have a mobile apps designed! At a minimum, at least one! No preference on OS as this is the beta version. Whatever OS (iOS, Android, Microsoft) is used others versions can rollout later.
Two other options are to build a web-based design and/or an app design mock up where we have app screen shots and data flows down in writing.
I have a suspicion that a clean app, with clear data, and an excellent presentation will do the trick.
Take a look at Swim Guide app, here is the web version. https://www.theswimguide.org/#-13.328157434510562/-131.36115425000003/60.80072389183557/65.16228324999997/3
This is a good app functionally and visually. What is needs to be an awesome app is inclusion of more Federal/State/County/NPO datasets. Lots of beaches, swimming and fishing holes in Chesapeake Bay are excluded (reliant upon waterkeeper submitted datasets). I'd love to see us cover all beaches, waterways based on GIS data not just permitted beaches.
Feel free to expand or minimize the direction of this project. I welcome all insight and possibilities to provide a usable and intuitive product.
See you at SERC if I don't hear from you before hand.
Cheers,
Carmen
Eric Thomas • almost 12 years ago
Would your goal be to integrate in with Waterkeeper and the swimguide so that Maryland data can be immediately reflected in that tool or to create your own version that only focuses on the Bay?
Carmen Skarlupka • almost 12 years ago
Solid question, squishy response.
This is first and foremost a Maryland sponsored application design challenge so it lends that, on the low side, Maryland is looking to brand a statewide application to add to their other iMaps products. On the high side, they may be open to a Bay-wide app would with functionality to accommodate Bay states (DC, DE, NY, PA and VA) beginning with MD datasets.
Another option is to think really big and consider nationwide functionality - the Waterkeeper Swim Guide on steroids. The Waterkeeper Swim Guide is excellent but it only tracks enterococci (bacteria) data reported by Maryland County Departments of Health and only for permitted beaches. This leaves a gaping hole in the number of actual swimming locations (beaches, rivers, ponds, streams, creeks) and the Bay.
In addition, Waterkeepers Swim Guide does not include local waterkeeper and watershed advocacy groups bacteria data. Many MD waterkeepers sample their local swimming beaches routinely and that data is readily available. Clearwater is an example in Anne Arundel County available at http://www.severnriver.org/projects/clearwater/clear.htm for an examples
And there is the large over-arching 48-hour Preemptive Advisory where all beaches are closed after 1" or more of rain to any water contact. Currently, these closures are not reported on Swim Guide.
And of course we have numerous wastewater (raw sewage) overflows that need to be incorporated.
The MDE is currently working on Toxics TMDLs and it would be awesome to include Mercury, PCBs, Pesticides, et. al. Metals where we have them. We also have waterways that have FIDI scores of 0 (zero) life. If a waterway cannot sustain invertebrate lifeforms it stands to reason that people may need to avoid those areas as well.
Ideally, I'd like to see an app that includes safe fishing and shellfishing (oysters) and crabs. The State advises eating only 6 ounces of fish per week caught in local waters. But offers numerous stronger restrictions and prohibitions depending upon species and contaminants. See MDE Fish Consumption http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/marylander/citizensinfocenterhome/pages/citizensinfocenter/fishandshellfish/index.aspx
I'd like to see an app that is capable of expanding to include the information that consumers need to make informed decision regarding water safety. Basically, I am imagining I am a parent and my children are going fishing or swimming. The kids have their smartphones, what do they need to know before they enter the water or eat that fish?
It would be wonderful to collaborate with Waterkeeper Swim Guide team to see what growth potential there is to expand or add data to their app. Hope I answered your question.