Riverfly Monitoring

Description

Rflies is a web-based riverfly monitoring application that provides a simple and quick way of recording riverfly monitoring data and making it easily available in graphical or spreadsheet format to anyone requiring it. It is suitable for PC's and mobile devices.

It consists of five secure modules targeted at the individual needs of monitors, group coordinators, hub coordinators and administrators. Also included is a separate read-only module (AKA Riverfly Friends) for anyone who needs easy access to monitoring data (such as the Environment Agency, water companies and students etc.) without needing to log in. With the exception of this read-only module, modules are accessed using unique login keys and pin codes.

All data is retained in a format known as JSON that can be interchanged between web and non-web applications such as databases and spreadsheets. Additional modules can be created to support data portability as required. Rflies JSON data is managed by a proprietary system that ensures several riverfly monitoring data sources can reside on the web server without the overheads normally associated with traditional databases. It also acts as a backup for the National Riverfly Database should the need occur.

Administrators Module

In order to create a riverfly monitoring group, a unique system name and a description needs to be created by an administrator. The description can represent a hub, catchment or trust consisting of several monitoring groups, or a fishing club/environmental group consisting of a single group. Once a description has been entered, a system name is automatically created and subsequently used throughout the life of the monitoring group. At the same time, the administrator creates a pin code that is required by hub coordinators when using the Hub Coordinators Module.

Hub Coordinators Module

The Hub Coordinators Module is where monitoring groups and sites are created. In normal use, a group name and description would be entered followed by all site details. The group name forms part of the key required by monitors and group coordinators to log in.

When a group is initially created, an interactive geographical map is displayed allowing the hub coordinator to move and resize it to ensure all sites are in view. The position and size of the map determines how it looks when displayed on the Riverfly Friends module.

Sites can be associated with coloured categories that determine how they are represented and displayed. They can represent different rivers, monitoring groups or individual monitors. For example, a river may have other rivers flowing into it that are monitored by the same group. The categories in this example represent the different rivers. Alternatively, a long river may be monitored by several different groups and the categories represent individual monitoring groups. If categories are not required, sites are displayed using a single colour.

Apart from group and sites creation, hub coordinators also manage the pin codes used by monitors and group coordinators to log in.

Riverfly Monitors Module

The Riverfly Monitors Module is used to collect riverfly monitoring results and upload them to the website. It also allows monitors to upload site photographs, however, these should only be uploaded when absolutely required and is not designed for general use (site registration photographs and unusual events should be the only photographs). Any photographs uploaded should not contain images of people as this may contravene the General Data Protection Regulations.

Unlike other modules, The Riverfly Monitors Module has been designed to work in situations where an internet connection or phone signal is not available. It uses recent technology that allows web pages to be stored locally on a device and works like home-screen applications. This technology requires mobile devices to be using the latest operating systems and may not be available on all devices at this moment.

Group Coordinators Module

Once monitoring data has been uploaded to the website it is available to view using the Riverfly Friends module, but still needs to be validated by a group coordinator. This is important as it notifies the group coordinator that a new entry is available in case the data is needed for other purposes (uploading to the National Database for example) or a trigger breach process needs to be followed up.

If required, new entries can be deleted and not validated. This would normally be used if entries have been duplicated or the wrong site selected.

Riverfly Friends Module

This read-only public module allows anyone to view monitoring group results in graphical and spreadsheet formats. The selected monitoring group shows site marker locations on an interactive map. Each site marker can be selected to display a vertical chart of monthly target group results. Labels on the chart are used to select and display individual target group results and the chart can scroll horizontally to display more than ten years of monitoring results. If any site photographs are available, a link is shown allowing them to be displayed or hidden.

Once a site has been selected, monthly results and any notes included by the monitor are displayed below the map in table format.

The overall health of the selected river can also be displayed as a chart showing each site's average monitoring score. Average scores are calculated by adding each site's monthly scores together and divided by the number of times it has been monitored. Comparing the difference between sites on this chart can show areas of concern or pollution. Any trigger breaches can also be displayed in table format.

If required, a spreadsheet containing monitoring data for the selected monitoring group can be dynamically created and download.