Rose Swanson Mountain Data Collation and Citizen Science

This study focuses on the use of citizen science and GIS tools for collecting and analyzing data on Rose Swanson Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. While several organizations collect data on wildlife habitats, trail mapping, and fire documentation on the mountain, there are few studies conducted on the area and citizen science is not being addressed. The study aims to aggregate various data sources and involve citizens in the data collection process using ArcGIS Dashboard and ArcGIS Survey 123. These GIS tools allow for the integration and analysis of different kinds of data, as well as the creation of interactive maps and surveys that can facilitate citizen engagement and data collection. The data used in the dashboard was sourced from BC Data Catalogue, Explore the Map, and iNaturalist. Results show effective citizen participation, with 1073 wildlife observations and 3043 plant observations. The dashboard provides a user-friendly interface for citizens to tailor their map extent and layers, access surveys, and obtain information on each attribute included in the pop-up by clicking. Analysis on classification of fuel types, ecological communities, endangered wildlife species presence and critical habitat, and scope of human activities can be conducted based on the distribution of data. The dashboard can provide direction for researchers to develop research or contribute to other projects in progress, as well as advocate for natural resource managers to use citizen science data. The study demonstrates the potential for GIS and citizen science to contribute to meaningful discoveries and advancements in areas.