Virtual Mappler Training

Consistency in Data and Helping Volunteers

What is R.A.F.T.?

The River Assessment Field Team is a program for volunteer citizen scientists to find and record data about trash in the riverbed!

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Why we collect this data:

• Plan our clean-ups more efficiently
• Inform partners and property owners about trash on their properties
• Understand trash trends in the riverbed and how that trash ends up here
• Advocate for a cleaner river through concrete data

Understanding the Map

Green Lines: Property Parcel Boundaries

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Icons: Represent different types of trash

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Site no longer present – There had been trash here, but it has either been cleaned up or moved via other means

Inactive Encampment

Stormwater Debris

Encampment Trash - active camp or items

Dumping

Litter

Special Removal Needed – cannot be removed easily, needs tools or a lot of effort to remove

Navigation Note

Types of Trash- categorized based on source

• Encampment Trash – a person is (or seems to be) actively using these items (laundry, folded clothes, sleeping area) �
• Inactive Encampment – items a person has used to live in the river bed at one time, less organized, more dirt and/or leaf litter, no sleeping area, clearly abandoned�
• Stormwater Debris – was carried to location by water (recent storm, drains, in river)
• Note: this category trumps all other categories if trash is in river or has been washed out to current location�
• Litter – usually near high-traffic areas, an accumulation of food trash and other everyday items over time�
• Dumping – larger items, discarded to avoid dumping fees (couches, chairs, shopping carts, bikes)

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Rule of Thumb: How did this get here?

Encampment Trash

Now for some examples. Can you guess the category of this trash?

Dumping

Stormwater Debris

Inactive Encampment

Litter

How To Record A Site

We’re going to walk through how to fill out this data form when we’re in the field.

Let’s Try

Open the Mappler K3 app on your phone

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Login Info

Username: Trainee

Password: river123

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Once you’re logged in, take a look around the map to familiarize yourself, then let’s make a site

You come across this trash in the riverbed. �

First, ask yourself if is this at least a bag’s worth of trash? ��A “bag” is the equivalent to the volume of a large contractor-size black trash bag, or 35 lbs worth of trash. This is the measurement we use to estimate volume of trash in the riverbed.�

Since this is definitely a bag’s worth of trash, we will mark it. But, if it was less than a bag, we would leave it off the map. We do this to normalize our data, and to help keep the map uncluttered.

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�Tap the ‘Add’ button at the bottom of the screen.

Let’s edit the location.

To change this, tap the “Change Location” button, then move your red circle to the location shown at the left.

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When you’ve fixed your location, tap the “Confirm” button.

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The location is not always accurate. It’s important to always check your location when making a site to ensure it’s in the correct spot.

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Your pin should be on top of your current location, but we want to change it to be in the Riverwalk Golf Course portion of the riverbed.

Adding photos to your site

We will go over photos in more detail a little later, but for now, tap the box with the + icon to add a photo.

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It will ask if you want to add from Camera or Gallery, select ‘Camera’ and take a photo of the photo to the right on your screen. ��It may ask you to confirm and/or crop your photo, then tap ‘Done’. You should end up back at your site form if done correctly.

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Now we will add a photo from your Gallery. Tap the next ‘Add Photo’ box and select ‘Gallery’. Use a photo you have of something outdoors. �(choose a photo with no people)�

Confirm/Crop, then tap Done. You should have 2 photos added to your site, and be back at your form.

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Choosing a Site Name and Category

For Site Name, we always want to pick an identifiable item of trash which is not likely to move.

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The biggest item at this site is the flat screen television, so we will call this site “Flat Screen TV”.

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We want to keep the Site Name short and sweet, as this is how we will refer to the site from now on. We will capitalize all site names like a book title.

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Now pick the Category that best fits the way this trash got here.

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Hint: Even though the TV is a large item, because it is accompanied by food trash and cardboard, what will be its category?

Inactive Encampment

Moving along to Bags and Comments.

Next, we already discussed bag count, but since the trash present at this location is just the TV and some additional food trash and cardboard, the total bag count will only be 1 since the TV is the majority of the pounds.

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Note: For bag count, we only enter a number value. You would never write “1 bag”.

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Comments are the most important part of creating a site. These will describe how to find the site again.��We will go into more detail on the next slide.

Comments are super important!

Comments are used to help someone who has not seen this trash to find it again

• Describe landmarks nearby
• Powerlines, overpasses/bridges, nearby signs, trees
• Describe access to the site
• How close is it to the main trail? Any nearby streets? Do you have to climb over or look behind anything?
• Note any safety concerns �(ex: bees, a dog present, etc.)
• Note if any special tool would be needed for removal �(ex: shovel, hook, net, etc.)

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Given these guidelines, what can you see in the photo that would be identifiable? Any plants?

For this assignment, make up a description for this site and add �your first name and date to the comment section so I can check your work.

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All Finished!

At the bottom of the form, tap the ‘Save’ button to add your site to the map.

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When you add it to the map, a bubble will populate where you added it.

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Tap the ‘More’ button to view your site details.

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Your site should look similar to the example at the right.

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Congratulations! You’ve made your first site! You can put your phone down for a bit now.

Flat Screen TV

Flat Screen TV

Morgan – mm/dd/yy

Now let’s talk about photos

After the comments, photos are the next important

Tips for good photos:

• Take a step back, include more surroundings
• Turn around, where did you come from?
• Include any unique landmarks which are visible from the site
• Use your finger to indicate direction to site

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Ask yourself: if the trash was gone, what would identify this location?

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NOTE: We never include people in any site photos, including people �experiencing homelessness or SDRPF staff and volunteers.��Please remember that all this data is public.

Unhelpful Photos

These were the only photos provided for each of these sites. �There is no context for the surroundings, trash is not super visible.

Good Site Photos Examples

These photos show the entrance, and what can be seen from the site itself, like the buildings

Notice how the photos reflect what is said in the comments

Just south of river, in grassy open space.

You don’t always need a ton of photos!

Always Check:

• Titles – Book Title Capitalization, short, identifiable item
• Comments – directions to site, landmarks, �not a description of trash
• GPS location – is the point way off, in a parking lot, on top of a building, etc.

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Updating Sites

• Update Every Site in the segment with:
• Site Still Present ~or~ Site No Longer Present
• Photos if the site looks drastically different
• Update bag count if needed
• Today’s Date

Record any/all changes in the comment section.

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When we are out surveying, we not only make new sites but we also update old sites to reflect any status changes in the comments. ��On any site, you can tap the 3 dots in the top right corner to ‘Edit’ the information.

Note: Encampment Trash

We call any active encampment “Encampment Trash” as a code, to protect the people living in the riverbed since our data is public access.

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When using the “Encampment Trash” category, all photos and comments are hidden from the public, in case there is any sensitive information necessary to share with partners.

Field Protocols

• Active Sites – Leader does a call out, if someone is home NO PHOTOS
• If any dogs are present be very cautious
• Maintain 20ft of distance of suspected active camps and items
• Be far enough away from active site when you log it, and keep moving

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Our first priority is safety. Do not proceed if the situation feels unsafe.

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You’re ready for the field!

Congratulations on finishing your �Virtual Mappler Training

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There are nuances to our data collection, and you will be able to see those better in the field. Please ask questions as they arise. ��In the meantime, �welcome to the RAFT team!