Page 102 - Mapping the Nation: Taking Climate Action

101 Data Collection Technology The Stream Crew program relies on data collection. By tracking problems and debris jams over time, the city can see patterns and trends that influence plans for the future. For example, if the data shows that one section of stream consistently gets blocked by debris every year, that location can be added to a priority list for additional inspections by city staff during and after major storm events in the rainy winter season. The city uses GIS to mark and track specific locations, allowing the team to store vast amounts of information, visualize the situation, and analyze the data to compare changes over time. The GIS syncs up in real time with a mobile data collection application called Collector. Interns can update the app while standing in the middle of a stream—adding new data fields on the fly to log whatever they encounter. Interns once gathered information using paper maps, marking data points and trying to keep the paper dry. "It was slow, and the data wasn't accurate," Greer said. "Now we're able to gather much more information to make smart decisions." With the mobile app, data collection is more accurate, adaptable, and fast. The Stream Crew uses these advances in technology and real-time GIS to magnify their impact during seasonal work. Collecting data on-site is an essential experience for these future scientists—one of the many benefits they gain from the internship program. Professional Development The first Stream Crew in 1996 was a manual labor crew, hired to do the often strenuous work of clearing heavy debris. But in 2003, the program was reinvented as an internship program. Training, education, leadership opportunities, networking events, and field trips were added to enhance the experience for participants. Now, they visit sites such as stormwater and wastewater treatment facilities, a large dam, a sustainable community, fish collection and tracking facilities, a large- scale stream enhancement project, and a ranger station. The visits give students the chance to learn about their disciplines in the real world. For many college students entering the job market, internships are considered a platform for networking and résumé-building. But for Keith Bondaug-Winn, Salem's stormwater quality Interns work together to collect and remove invasive species from ponds and waterways.