New Apps to Enable Citizen Science

Professor Zhenghong Tang, from the Community and Regional Planning Program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, taps mobile tech, aids access to environmental data.

2 minute read

March 3, 2016, 11:00 AM PST

By Kerry Vondrak


Research by Zhenghong Tang is using smart phones to expand public access to environmental data.

Working with federal, state and local organizations, the associate professor of community and regional planning at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has created a series of apps that drill into and organize expansive, online scientific databases. The apps, which include Nebraska Wetlands, the U.S. Green Infrastructure Reporter, the Omaha Green Infrastructure, and a to-be-released reporter focused on underground water, present environmental data in an easily accessible and readily understandable format, promoting public awareness and engagement in environmental issues.

"All of this scientific data is available already online to anyone, but it is not presented in a way that is easy to understand," Tang said. "Through these educational apps, our goal is to make the data accessible and usable for the average citizen."

The apps also feature a social component, allowing users to become citizen scientists and participate in data collection. For instance, the Nebraska Wetlands app includes an option for users to report current wetland conditions through writing, photographs and videos.

"Providing access to the government databases is important, but it is equally important to provide a real-time reporting system for citizens," Tang said. "By giving that option, citizens can actively engage in science and contribute to environmental management. The information they send also provides a real-time report on conditions, something that the government databases cannot always provide."

The app projects were developed with faculty and students in UNL's Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The team included Tang, Hongfeng Yu, assistant professor; and students Yanfu Zhou and Jieting Wu.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 in University of Nebraska-Lincoln

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

7 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6, 2025 - Next City

Tunnel for pedestrians, bikes, and buses in Lyon, France lit up with purple lights.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free

Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Missouri state Rep. Chris Brown speaking in government chamber.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies

A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

2 hours ago - Missouri Independent

Pedestrians crossing a rainbow painted crosswalk in New York City.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program

The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.

3 hours ago - Urban Milwaukee