The rapid increase and accessibility of smartphones is such that apps are a central part of data collection for many wildlife-vehicle collisions recording schemes. One such scheme, based at Cardiff University (Project Splatter www.projectsplatter.co.uk) have been recording roadkill data since 2013 . A mobile app has been an integral part of their citizen science project since 2014 but as it was created by a volunteer this made it difficult to conduct updates and improvements.
In 2020 Project Splatter were approached by Animex International who offered to redevelop their app as part of their commitment to improving technologies in road ecology industry. This presentation explores the process which the team have taken to implement new features, improve functionality and collect high quality data, which combines to create a better experience for all users.
Though this private and educational partnership the team have demonstrated the importance of developing relationships between different sectors and can give examples that show how others can learn and prosper from similar collaborations.
“The Roadkill App” is due to be available in the UK from Autumn 2021 and its new data set is going to be collected, added and analysed as part of a NERC-funded PhD Studentship that has been co-designed through this partnership between Cardiff University and Animex International.
Pilot app projects are also due to start in Canada, South Africa and the USA in 2022.