AMUnatcoll

Evidence of natural spatial data in the field

The AMUnatcoll mobile application (from Adam Mickiewicz University Collections) together with the AMUnatcoll portal creates the AMUnatcoll IT system. The mission of this IT system is the development and promotion of natural knowledge by collecting and sharing data on biological diversity and providing tools for its analysis to the widest possible group of recipients.

MA is aimed at users who document flora, fauna, mycobiotics and natural habitats for scientific, educational and professional purposes related to nature protection. MA may be useful for scientists, teachers and students, nature conservation staff conducting inventories, officials and services related to environmental management, or nature amateurs.

Linking the MA with an individual account established on the AMUnatcoll portal allows you to create your own database and their development using the tools available there.

Observations of plants, fungi, animals or natural habitats can be documented in the form of text descriptions in standard forms, photos and voice recordings. A special form was also prepared to describe zoological samples collected in the field (e.g. soil samples, litter, bird nests, dead wood). Observation forms contain a list of defined fields, to be selected by the user and open fields, which the user can define. The list of predefined fields includes, among others ordinal data, identifying the observation (number, date, author), data specifying the coordinates of the observation site, area size and vegetation cover. The geographic locations of the recorded field observations can be displayed all the time on the base map in AM so that the user has a constant view of their location while working in the field. Additionally, for even greater control of field work, the AM has a function of remembering the traces of the hike.

The user observing species can choose their scientific names from the list provided and assign them such features as: quantity and coverage, sex, age, stage of development, dimensions.

The user documenting natural habitats has the option of selecting habitat types from the list provided or entering names according to individual classification. The user collecting zoological samples may use a wide list of fields enabling their detailed description.

After sending the data to the personal database created on the portal, it can be processed using a wide set of analytical tools available in the AMUnatcoll system. If these data meet the conditions specified by the administrator of the AMUnatcoll IT System, then, with the consent of the author, the observations may be included in the general database and made available in a fully open manner to all interested recipients