Measure to Manage: Ghost PLUZ Collector App

Abstract

The Ghost Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ), located 60 km northwest of Calgary, is a popular area for recreation activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, and driving off-highway vehicles (OHVs), despite lack of sufficient facilities to support these activities. There is a desire among concerned residents for a better understanding of the current land use to warrant the development of more facilities, to help decrease widespread environmental damage resulting from recreation. Using Esri’s Collector for ArcGIS, a smartphone app was created which allows residents to record incidents of environmental damage related to recreation, with or without cell reception. The data fields and the data input structure were designed in collaboration with the residents to ensure optimal usability. Data is automatically georeferenced and stored on ArcGIS Online, Esri’s cloud-based mapping platform, allowing multiple people to use the app and view the data simultaneously. The app was successfully tested by the community users, their feedback was recorded, and the app has drawn interest from Alberta government representatives who make decisions about recreational planning in the Ghost PLUZ.

* Indicates faculty mentor.