A new app was developed to help track Red Tide and other environmental events. Citizen Scientific Information Collaboration (CSIC) was developed by researchers at the MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota.
The app was developed to help both the public and scientists be aware of water quality issues and find solutions.
One of the scientists continuously working on the app's development is Dr. Tracy Fanara, the manager of MOTE Lab's environmental health program. She and her team are using the data the app collects to find ways to treat water quality issues in Southwest Florida.
“CSIC was developed to empower the public”, Fanara told 4 In Your Corner.
Users can create reports in the app which uses guides like questionnaires ad images to help users determine what may be wrong with the water. A key feature allows users to report the exact location where algae blooms and fish kills appear for more accurate information. Fanara says she believes this will make her and her colleagues' research more accurate.
“The citizens see the fish kills and the respiratory information before we get near those coastal samples”. The app is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.
