Research Project Proposal
What are we doing with the data we are collecting from this project? Today I formulated a project proposal for the Intro to Geospatial Applications class taught by Dr Jose Diaz-Garayua. This will be the first project made with the dataset. This information would not be possible without the hundreds of users who have made thousands of contributions over the past 12 years. Please note that all research products from this project will be fully open access and available to the public.
Project Proposal
Author: August Frisk
Date: 9/26/2024
Title: Analyzing iNaturalist Data to Understand Biodiversity and User Behavior on Stanislaus State University Campus
Abstract:
This study investigates the utilization of iNaturalist data from the CSU Stanislaus project to understand the biodiversity on campus. By analyzing user-reported species, observation frequency, and temporal trends, the study aims to explore the factors influencing iNaturalist usage and its impact on biodiversity documentation.
Specific research questions include:
- User Engagement: How has the popularity of iNaturalist correlated with the number of active users on the CSU Stanislaus campus?
- Species Diversity: Has an increase in campus users led to a corresponding increase in the diversity of reported species?
- Construction Impact: How have construction projects on campus affected the types of species observed and reported?
- Location Influence: Does the location within the campus (e.g., walkways, parking lots, restricted areas) influence the types of species documented?
By addressing these questions, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist in biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts on university campuses.
