Citizen Science Efforts Research Articles

Efficient extraction of textile dyes using reusable acrylic-based smart polymers

Water pollution from industrial or household waste, containing dyes from the textile industry, poses a significant environmental challenge requiring immediate attention. In this study, we have developed a crosslinked-smart-polymer film based on 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate copolymerized with other hydrophilic and hydrophobic commercial monomers, and its efficacy in removing 21 different textile dyes was assessed. The smart polymer effectively interacts with and adsorbs dyes, inducing a noticeable colour change. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis confirmed a removal efficiency exceeding 90 % for anionic dyes, with external diffusion identified as the primary influencing factor on process kinetics, consistent with both pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Crank-Dual model. Isothermal studies revealed distinct adsorption behaviors, with indigo carmine adhering to a Freundlich isotherm while others conformed to the Langmuir model. Permeation and fluorescence analyses corroborated isotherm observations, verifying surface adsorption. Significantly, our proof-of-concept demonstrated the resilience of the smart-film to common fabric softeners and detergents without compromising adsorption capacity. Additionally, the material exhibited reusability (for at least 5 cycles), durability, and good thermal and mechanical properties, with T5 and T10 values of 265 °C and 342 °C, respectively, a Tg of 168 °C, and a water swelling percentage of 54.3 %, thus confirming its stability and suitability for industrial application. Environmental implicationDyes released during laundry processes should be classified as "hazardous materials" owing to their significant toxicity towards aquatic organisms, with the potential to disrupt ecosystems and harm aquatic biodiversity. This paper discusses the development of a novel acrylic material in film form, engineered to extract toxic anionic dyes. This study directly contributes to mitigating the environmental impact associated with the fashion industry and the domestic use of textiles. It can be implemented on both an industrial and personal scale, thereby encouraging more sustainable practices and promoting collaborative citizen science efforts towards

Emerging technologies in citizen science and potential for insect monitoring.

Emerging technologies are increasingly employed in environmental citizen science projects. This integration offers benefits and opportunities for scientists and participants alike. Citizen science can support large-scale, long-term monitoring of species occurrences, behaviour and interactions. At the same time, technologies can foster participant engagement, regardless of pre-existing taxonomic expertise or experience, and permit new types of data to be collected. Yet, technologies may also create challenges by potentially increasing financial costs, necessitating technological expertise or demanding training of participants. Technology could also reduce people's direct involvement and engagement with nature. In this perspective, we discuss how current technologies have spurred an increase in citizen science projects and how the implementation of emerging technologies in citizen science may enhance scientific impact and public engagement. We show how technology can act as (i) a facilitator of current citizen science and monitoring efforts, (ii) an enabler of new research opportunities, and (iii) a transformer of science, policy and public participation, but could also become (iv) an inhibitor of participation, equity and scientific rigour. Technology is developing fast and promises to provide many exciting opportunities for citizen science and insect monitoring, but while we seize these opportunities, we must remain vigilant against potential risks. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Utilizing long-term opportunistic sightings records to document spatio-temporal shifts in mysticete presence and use in the Central Salish Sea

The Salish Sea supports several baleen whale species, including humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), gray (Eschrichtius robustus) and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). With the exception of minke whales, these species were decimated by commercial whaling in the 1900s. Because recovery of these populations is monitored on broad spatial scales determined by stocks or populations, their use of the Salish Sea ecosystem is not well documented or understood. We collated 17,436 opportunistic sighting reports to assess patterns in mysticete presence and distribution in the Salish Sea (1976–2019). We used the proportion of sightings for each species and spatial models targeting comparisons between species to limit the influence of spatio-temporal variation in reporting efforts. Humpback whale sightings have increased dramatically since the late 2000s, mirroring population-wide increases and suggesting a renewed use of historically important feeding areas. Gray whale sightings increased most notably at two distinct times (1989, 2017), both of which align with periods of high mortality experienced by the delisted Eastern North Pacific stock of gray whales and may reflect individuals straying from their migration routes. Sightings of minke whales remained relatively stable over this study period and were likely driven by a group of 30–40 individuals that forage off shallow banks and bathymetrically complex habitats around the San Juan Archipelago. Though it can be difficult to separate the bias that accompanies public sightings databases, citizen science efforts are invaluable for monitoring the recovery of rebounding populations and can illuminate longitudinal patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Confirming the Warm and Dense Sub-Saturn TIC 139270665 b with the Automated Planet Finder and Unistellar Citizen Science Network

We report the discovery and confirmation of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) single-transit, warm and dense sub-Saturn, TIC 139270665 b. This planet is unusually dense for its size: with a bulk density of 2.13 g cm−3 (0.645R J , 0.463M J ), it is the densest warm sub-Saturn of the TESS family. It orbits a metal-rich G2 star. We also found evidence of a second planet, TIC 139270665 c, with a longer period of 1010−220+780 days and minimum mass MPsini of 4.89−0.37+0.66 M J . First clues of TIC 139270665 b’s existence were found by citizen scientists inspecting TESS photometric data from sector 47 in 2022 January. Radial velocity measurements from the Automated Planet Finder combined with TESS photometry and spectral energy distributions via EXOFASTv2 system modeling suggested a 23.624−0.031+0.030 day orbital period for TIC 139270665 b and also showed evidence for the second planet. Based on this estimated period, we mobilized the Unistellar citizen science network for photometric follow-up, capitalizing on their global distribution to capture a second transit of TIC 139270665 b. This citizen science effort also served as a test bed for an education initiative that integrates young students into modern astrophysics data collection. The Unistellar photometry did not definitively detect a second transit, but did enable us to further constrain the planet’s period. As a transiting, warm, and dense sub-Saturn, TIC 139270665 b represents an interesting laboratory for further study to enhance our models of planetary formation and evolution.

The USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Database and the National Register of Champion Trees — A Potentially Symbiotic Relationship

Abstract This article shows how probability sampling and citizen science efforts can complement each other, using the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and the ongoing search by the National Register of Champion Trees (NRCT) for the largest specimen of each naturally occurring tree species in the United States as an example. We develop a ratio statistic (Zs) that uses the difference in size of the largest tree of a species from each database to order the tree species according to the assumed ease with which a larger specimen than the current national champion might be found. Our results show ninety-two candidate species that have been recorded by FIA for which there is no national champion and sixty-five species for which a new champion should be easy to find. In a supplemental table, we show ninety-four species listed as observable by FIA in the NRCT but not recorded in the FIA sample. Study Implications: An interest in forests and forestry is always accompanied by an interest in trees, especially very big trees. Two very different ways of learning about trees are analyzed concurrently in a way that reveals their complementarity. The two efforts are the probability sample, conducted by the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program, and the citizen science effort known as the National Register of Champion Trees (NRCT). We develop a statistic that will help tree sleuths find champion trees and provide FIA practitioners with a quality control measure and an indication of which species would benefit from an increase in sample intensity.

Mapping invasive alien plants through citizen science: shortlisting species of concern for the Nilgiris

Species introduced from elsewhere are known as alien species. They may be introduced as crop plants or ornamental plants, or for timber. A small proportion of introduced species can become invasive thereby spreading at the cost of native species and habitats, negatively affecting biodiversity, food security, and human wellbeing. Despite the growing recognition of the threat of invasive alien species, we still lack information about the distribution and abundance of species widely accepted to be invasive. To address this information gap regarding invasive alien species distributions, we initiated a pilot citizen science effort to create an atlas of invasive plants in the Moyar-Bhavani landscape of the Nilgiri District. We aimed, through this pilot effort, to develop and test user-friendly mapping protocols and develop an interface for citizen scientists to use. Ultimately, we hope to create a model that can be scaled up to large conservation landscapes, such as the Western Ghats, the central Indian Highlands, and the Himalaya.

Cascading carrion: Opportunistic predation at deer gut piles

Carrion is increasingly recognized as an important part of food web ecology that impacts multiple trophic levels and creates an arena for multiple species interactions. The pulsed nature of hunter-derived carrion, in the form of gut piles, is a form of carrion that has been overlooked in the study of food webs and scavenger interaction. The Offal Wildlife Watching project aims to better understand scavenger species that benefit from offal and how they interact with each other and this resource. Through citizen science efforts by hunters and Zooniverse volunteers, we have collected and analyzed over 230,000 images of scavengers at white-tailed deer gut piles. At some gut piles, we have observed barred owls and bobcats both scavenging at hunter provided gut piles and preying on rodents that were also attracted to the gut pile. This interaction, made possible by a food subsidy that is historically novel in time and space, may have implications for rodent populations, predator survival and fecundity, and the activity patterns of both. Continued research and investigation will shed light on the impacts of cascading carrion on species interaction.

A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Environmental Injustice in Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas

Decades of research have revealed that environmental justice communities experience higher amounts of pollutants and the subsequent public health impacts when compared with majority communities throughout the United States. This reality is underscored within regions that also experience the confluence of anthropogenic and natural hazards, such as neighborhoods located in Houston, TX. Despite substantial knowledge of the poorer health conditions, there still exist many barriers when attempting positive environmental and public health change or interventions within these communities. This paper discusses an ongoing collaborative effort within Fifth Ward, a location that garnered national attention in 2019 due to a discovery of a cancer cluster. To address these, and other, existing inequitable conditions, a participatory research and place-based project was developed with on-the-ground organizations such as the Coalition of Community Organizations, and academic institutions. Four approaches and best practices are discussed: (1) community advocacy, (2) citizen science efforts and academic partnerships, (3) research in action approaches, and (4) information sharing policies. This transdisciplinary approach to public health and resilience seeks to establish a better-informed public, understanding of environmental conditions, and co-learning alongside a diverse team of interest groups, residents, and stakeholders.

First national assessment of wildlife mortality in Ecuador: An effort from citizens and academia to collect roadkill data at country scale.

Ecuador has both high richness and high endemism, which are increasingly threatened by anthropic pressures, including roads. Research evaluating the effects of roads remains scarce, making it difficult to develop mitigation plans. Here, we present the first national assessment of wildlife mortality on roads that allow us to (1) estimate roadkill rates per species, (2) identify affected species and areas, and (3) reveal knowledge gaps. We bring together data from systematic surveys and citizen science efforts to present a dataset with 5010 wildlife roadkill records from 392 species, and we also provide 333 standardized corrected roadkill rates calculated on 242 species. Systematic surveys were reported by ten studies from five Ecuadorian provinces, revealing 242 species with corrected roadkill rates ranging from 0.03 to 171.72 ind./km/year. The highest rates were for the yellow warbler Setophaga petechia in Galapagos (171.72 ind./km/year), the cane toad Rhinella marina in Manabi (110.70 ind./km/year), and the Galapagos lava lizard Microlophus albemarlensis (47.17 ind./km/year). Citizen science and other nonsystematic monitoring provided 1705 roadkill records representing all 24 provinces in Ecuador and 262 identified species. The common opossum Didelphis marsupialis, the Andean white-eared opossum Didelphis pernigra, and the yellow warbler Setophaga petechia were more commonly reported (250, 104, and 81 individuals, respectively). Across all sources, we found 15 species listed as "Threatened" and six as "Data Deficient" by the IUCN. We recommend stronger research efforts in areas where the mortality of endemic or threatened species could be critical for populations, such as in Galapagos. This first country-wide assessment of wildlife mortality on Ecuadorian roads represents contributions from academia, members of the public, and government, underlining the value of wider engagement and collaboration. We hope these findings and the compiled dataset will guide sensible driving and sustainable planning of infrastructure in Ecuador and, ultimately, contribute to reduce wildlife mortality on roads.

Gaining Wings to FLY: Using Drosophila Oogenesis as an Entry Point for Citizen Scientists in Laboratory Research.

Citizen science is a productive approach to include non-scientists in research efforts that impact particular issues or communities. In most cases, scientists at advanced career stages design high-quality, exciting projects that enable citizen contribution, a crowdsourcing process that drives discovery forward and engages communities. The challenges of having citizens design their own research with no or limited training and providing access to laboratory tools, reagents, and supplies have limited citizen science efforts. This leaves the incredible life experiences and immersion of citizens in communities that experience health disparities out of the research equation, thus hampering efforts to address community health needs with a full picture of the challenges that must be addressed. Here, we present a robust and reproducible approach that engages participants from Grade 5 through adult in research focused on defining how diet impacts disease signaling. We leverage the powerful genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry of Drosophila oogenesis to define how nutrients impact phenotypes associated with genetic mutants that are implicated in cancer and diabetes. Participants lead the project design and execution, flipping the top-down hierarchy of the prevailing scientific culture to co-create research projects and infuse the research with cultural and community relevance.

Satellite-based environmental variables complement traditional variables in spatio-temporal models of purple martin migration

Context As advanced satellite-based environmental data become widely accessible, emerging opportunities exist to understand avian lifecycle events at continental scales. Although this growing toolbox offers much promise, an abundance of options may appear overwhelming to ecologists and point to the need for interdisciplinary collaborations to develop and interpret complex, spatio-temporal models. Aims Here, we demonstrate that satellite-based environmental variables complement conventional variables in spatio-temporal phenology models. The objective of this case study was to assess the degree to which including more sophisticated, satellite-based greenness data in association with a customised growing degree-day metric, can improve traditional phenological models based solely on monthly temperature and precipitation. Methods Using 2001–2018 purple martin (Progne subis) first arrival dates (n = 49 481) from the Purple Martin Conservation Association, we develop a predictive model for their first arrival dates on the basis of traditional temperature and precipitation values from ground-based meteorological stations, the MODIS satellite-based greenness index, and a more sophisticated growing degree-day metric. We used a Bayesian framework to construct 10 spatio-temporal candidate models on the basis of different combinations of predictor variables and our best model included a combination of both traditional and customised MODIS-based variables. Key results Our results indicated that purple martins arrive earlier when greening occurs earlier than the mean, which is also associated with warmer spring temperatures. In addition, wetter February months also predicted earlier martin arrivals. There was no directional change in purple martin first arrival dates from 2001 to 2018 in our study region. Conclusions Our results suggest that satellite-based environmental variables complement traditional variables such as mean monthly temperature and precipitation in models of purple martin migratory phenology. Implications Including emerging and conventional variables in spatio-temporal models allows complex migratory changes to be detected and interpreted at broad spatial scales, which is critical as Citizen Science efforts expand. Our results also pointed to the importance of assembling interdisciplinary research teams to assess the utility of novel data products.

State Regulation of Biomedical Citizen Science

Much of the analysis of the public health legal and regulatory mechanisms that potentially apply to biomedical citizen science activities in the United States has focused on the federal government, including US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and human subjects research requirements. But US state governments have authorities that intersect with, and sometimes extend beyond, federal regulators’ powers—such as through state medical practice statutes—and these state authorities might reach certain biomedical citizen science activities. For example, in 2019, California both enacted a “CRISPR law” requiring sellers of gene therapy kits to inform consumers that such kits “are not for self-administration,” and through its Department of Consumer Affairs, launched an investigation of a well-known biohacker for “unlicensed practice of medicine” under existing law. Building on legal analyses of state efforts to regulate establishment science, this essay explores ways that state governments might regulate biomedical citizen science activities and associated bodily autonomy—something that states may become increasingly interested in as biomedical citizen science efforts proliferate and intersect with state efforts to regulate bodily autonomy (for example, in the context of abortion). It also explores implications for those engaged in biomedical citizen science, including the fact that even when state regulatory efforts are not enforced or are successfully challenged, they are important because they can still influence federal policy.

Sighting records of “Migaloo” the white humpback whale provide evidence of Australian site fidelity and use of New Zealand waters as a migratory route

ABSTRACT Observations of an all-white humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) along the Australian east coast were first made in 1991 off Byron Bay, Australia. Genetic analysis of tissue samples collected from this individual confirmed this whale to be male and lacking pigmentation as a result of albinism. While there are observations of other predominately white humpback whales, this individual is the only known true white (albino) humpback whale in the Australian east coast population. Due to his unique appearance, this individual has since become known as “Migaloo”, which is a First Nations meaning for “white fella”. In this short note we present the first extensive sighting history of Migaloo collected via scientific and citizen science efforts. This provides evidence of Migaloo’s presence in both Australian and New Zealand waters confirmed through photographic evidence and genetic testing. We also detail gaps in sighting history and highlight variability in the east Australian humpback whale population migration. The collective annual effort to document Migaloo’s presence along the Australian east coast is a unique opportunity to connect a wide community of scientists and non-scientists through whale research. It also highlights variability in whale movement geographically and the potential impact changing oceans might have on this in the future.

Trends in Rail Migration Arrival and Departure Times Using Long-Term Citizen Science Data from Mississippi, USA

Little is known of rail migration ecology, consequently limiting efforts to effectively conserve rail populations. Therefore, we investigated changes in the migratory arrival/departure dates for Virginia Rails (Rallus limicola), King Rails (Rallus elegans) and Sora (Porzana carolina) north of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Using citizen science data collected over the last 25 years, we inspected summarized data for patterns of primary arrival and departure windows indicated by first or last observations of each species at the lagoons, respectively, alongside 10th/90th quantiles that controlled for outliers (i.e., early arrivals, late departures). Regression models found no differences in spring migration departures for any species. In fall migration we found a difference only in Virginia Rail arrivals, which became later over time. King Rail arrived in autumn first in mid-September (September 22nd) followed by Sora (October 5th) and Virginia Rails (October 21st). In spring migration, Virginia Rails departed first (March 19th), then King Rails (March 24th), and Sora (April 20th). Trends for King Rails may have been skewed by some individuals having non-migratory behavior. Despite limitations, citizen science efforts were useful for an initial investigation of rail migration ecology, and future applications could be used to identify and assess factors affecting migration timing (e.g., climate change, habitat availability, weather shifts).

Citizen science tackles plastics in Ghana

Citizen science efforts are instrumental in monitoring our progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Dilek Fraisl, Research Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and Omar Seidu, Director of Social and Demographic Statistics and the SDGs Coordinator at the Ghana Statistical Service, discuss how Ghana successfully integrated citizen science data into its official monitoring of marine plastic debris.

Artificial intelligence versus natural selection: Using computer vision techniques to classify bees and bee mimics

SummaryMany groups of stingless insects have independently evolved mimicry of bees to fool would-be predators. To investigate this mimicry, we trained artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms—specifically, computer vision—to classify citizen scientist images of bees, bumble bees, and diverse bee mimics. For detecting bees and bumble bees, our models achieved accuracies of and , respectively. As a proxy for a natural predator, our models were poorest in detecting bee mimics that exhibit both aggressive and defensive mimicry. Using the explainable AI method of class activation maps, we validated that our models learn from appropriate components within the image, which in turn provided anatomical insights. Our t-SNE plot yielded perfect within-group clustering, as well as between-group clustering that grossly replicated the phylogeny. Ultimately, the transdisciplinary approaches herein can enhance global citizen science efforts as well as investigations of mimicry and morphology of bees and other insects.

Citizen science across two centuries reveals phenological change among plant species and functional groups in the Northeastern US

Abstract Understanding the breadth and complexity of changes in phenology is limited by the availability of long‐term historical data sets with broad geographic range. We compare a recently discovered historical data set of plant phenology observations collected across the state of New York (1826–1872) to contemporary volunteer‐contributed observations (2009–2017) to evaluate changes in plant phenology between time periods. These multi‐site, multi‐taxa phenology data matched with temperature data uniquely extend historical observations back in time prior to the major atmospheric effects of the Industrial Revolution. The majority of the 36 trees, shrubs and forbs that comprised our analysable data set flowered and leafed out earlier in contemporary years than in the early to mid‐19th century. This shift is associated with a warming trend in mean January‐to‐April temperatures, with flowering and leafing advancing on average 3 days/°C earlier. On average, plants flowered 10.5 days earlier and leafed out 19 days earlier in the contemporary period. Urban areas exhibit more advanced phenology than their rural counterparts overall, and insect‐pollinated trees show more advanced phenology than wind‐pollinated trees and seasonality and growth form explain significant variation in flowering phenology. The greatest rates of temperature sensitivity and change between time periods for flowering are seen in early‐season species, particularly trees. Changes in the timing of leaf out are the most advanced for trees and shrubs in urban areas. Synthesis. Citizen science observations across two centuries reveal a dramatic, climate‐driven shift to earlier leaf out and flowering. The magnitude of advancement varies across settings, species and functional groups, and illustrates how long‐term monitoring and citizen science efforts are invaluable for ecological forecasting and discovery.

All for One Health and One Health for All: Considerations for Successful Citizen Science Projects Conducting Vector Surveillance from Animal Hosts.

Simple SummaryVector-borne diseases are often zoonotic and so a One Health approach must be employed in order to investigate and control them. Therefore, surveillance of arthropod vectors and pathogens among animal populations should complement human disease surveillance. Since traditional surveillance methods to collect arthropod vectors and conduct pathogen testing from animals can be challenging, data collection can be supplemented with citizen science approaches, where the general public is actively involved in collecting animals and/or samples. In this review, we discuss considerations for researchers to create a successful vector surveillance program using citizen science approaches with different stakeholders who own, have interests in, or work with animals.Many vector-borne diseases that affect humans are zoonotic, often involving some animal host amplifying the pathogen and infecting an arthropod vector, followed by pathogen spillover into the human population via the bite of the infected vector. As urbanization, globalization, travel, and trade continue to increase, so does the risk posed by vector-borne diseases and spillover events. With the introduction of new vectors and potential pathogens as well as range expansions of native vectors, it is vital to conduct vector and vector-borne disease surveillance. Traditional surveillance methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when surveillance involves sampling from animals. In order to monitor for potential vector-borne disease threats, researchers have turned to the public to help with data collection. To address vector-borne disease and animal conservation needs, we conducted a literature review of studies from the United States and Canada utilizing citizen science efforts to collect arthropods of public health and veterinary interest from animals. We identified common stakeholder groups, the types of surveillance that are common with each group, and the literature gaps on understudied vectors and populations. From this review, we synthesized considerations for future research projects involving citizen scientist collection of arthropods that affect humans and animals.

Monitoring creep along the Hayward Fault using structure-from-motion photogrammetry of offset curbs

SUMMARY We present observations of sidewalk curbs that are offset by creep on the Hayward Fault in Fremont, CA. Using structure-from-motion photogrammetry techniques, we construct 3-D models from suites of 2-D photos taken from 2015 to 2018 at 20 sites along the fault. By aligning and comparing these models, we measure the 3-D displacements of each offset sidewalk through time at precisions of ∼0.5 mm yr−1. We find that on average individual offset curbs record <40 per cent of the overall creep rate measured at nearby alignment arrays (which span a fault-perpendicular distance of 100 m or more). The ‘fault trace’ can more accurately be considered a zone of deformation, narrower than an alignment array width but wider than one curb length (∼3–5 m). Sites for which we have multiple time intervals to compare show interannual temporal variability in creep rate and direction. Our methods offer a new, complementary approach to cheaply and efficiently document creep-related deformation in an urban setting, one that may be particularly useful for tracking deformation of engineered materials and their cohesion to the subsurface. Given the use of readily available equipment (consumer-grade camera, GPS, ruler), ease of data collection and accessibility of urban field sites, we believe that this style of monitoring would lend itself particularly well to citizen science efforts.

Actionable Information in Flood Risk Communications and the Potential for New Web-Based Tools for Long-Term Planning for Individuals and Community

Because of its ubiquitous nature and catastrophic impacts, flood information should be readily available and continually evaluated, to maximize utility for the public and professionals. Web-based tools can fill existing needs for actionable information to inform decisions regarding flood damage mitigation for new and existing structures. The goal of this research is to identify the current capabilities, gaps, and future demands of Web-based flood communication systems. To understand the current and potential niche of Web-based flood tools, a review of the literature concerning the effectiveness of mass media, grassroots-based “citizen science” efforts, and social media in communicating flood risk is conducted. Then, the strengths of 50 major, freely-available, Web-based flood information portals are reviewed. Results suggest that mass media often provide actionable information, especially for short-term benefit immediately before, during, and immediately after the flood for individuals and community leaders. Citizen science and grassroots efforts encourage planning strategies to prevent or mitigate flood. Social media is most beneficial in raising awareness of the flood hazard and communicating short- and long-term mitigation and adaptation strategies. However, while mass media, citizen science, and social media have revolutionized the way that people plan for, survive, and recover from floods, their utility is largely restricted to addressing short-term information needs at the meso-scale or broader and/or conveying information about singular events to scientists and/or other professional interests. Actionable information to inform long-term planning and mitigating flood, for both the public and community leaders, remains lacking. A particular need is for communication mechanisms that satisfy several criteria simultaneously: wide broadcast, appealing delivery method, and focus on enhancing decision-making for long-term needs rather than solely for short-term benefit. Particularly useful would be a new, webtool that provides sufficient functionality to enhance flood risk reduction decision making, considering both the costs and benefits of mitigation.