Galveston Bay Action Network Mobile Web App: Citizen Pollution Reporting

Made Easy Alexandra Stiles

Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator

Galveston Bay Foundation

Why is pollution not reported?

• It is not convenient

• It is confusing

• No one wants to be “that person”

Galveston Bay Action Network

• The bridge between citizens and authorities

• Simple

• Convenient

• Anonymous (if chosen)

A Test Run

www.galvbay.org/gban

Developing GBAN

• Decommission old GBAN application

• Mappler software

• Available via web as a mobile web app

Capabilities • One common form

• Linked to specific email addresses

• GPS tag

• Send photos and videos (via YouTube) Pollution Type Respond (Y/N)

Boat Sewage

Septic Systems

Sanitary Sewers

Fish Kill

Trash and Debris

Abandoned or Submerged Vessel

Pet Waste

Storm Drains

Oil or Sheen

Chemicals

Discolored Water

Algal Bloom

Unknown

The First Reports • Four reports filed since launch

• Land reports

• Internal reporting

What’s next?

• Further web development

• Marketing the product

Questions? Alexandra Stiles

Galveston Bay Foundation astiles@galvbay.org 281-332-3381 x 217