Data Collection

Are you worried about losing your internet connection while out in the field? If so, this section is for you. This section will show you how to use Google Earth on your mobile device so you don't lose access to the maps if you lose your connection to the internet. Please follow the instructions below. The current instructions are for Android devices. iOS is similar but with a few differences.

1. Install Google Earth from the app store for you device

2. Download the 2022 Cooloola Bioblitz.kmz file to your device

3. Open Google Earth on your device

4. Tap the menu icon and select "Projects" from the list

5. Click "Open" at the top of the screen

6. Select the "Import KML file" option

7. Find and select the 2022 Cooloola Bioblitz kmz file you downloaded to your device. The map should load and you will see the map at the top of the page and a menu at the bottom of the page.

8. Tap the 3 vertical dots at the top of the screen and select "Present document". This will make the menu go away and give you access to the full screen for the map.. Tap on any icon or line on the screen to see more detailed information at the bottom.

9. Experiment with going back using the back arrow and hiding elements you don't want to see, then use the "Present document" option again to go full screen.

1. Download the App - Point your web browser to https://www.inaturalist.org or download the iNaturalist app for Android from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store for iOS.

2. Create an Account - If you don’t have an account on iNaturalist, create an account through the web site or via the app on your phone.

3. Join the Cooloola Bioblitz Project (so we can find all your sightings later)

   1. Android

      1. Click the hamburger menu (top left corner) and tap “Projects” from the list.

      2. Tap the search icon in the top right corner and type “Cooloola” in the search box.

      3. Tap “Cooloola Bioblitz (this year's date)” from the list

      4. Tap the “Join” button

      5. Set up a trust relationship with the project. This allows the project owner to see any obscured observations that might be endangered, vulnerable or threatened. It is imperative that you set this up and recommended that you allow all obscured observations, even those that you mark private. Please watch the "Trusting a Project so obscured coordinates are visible to the project owner" YouTube video to learn how to set this up. Note: This process can't be done in the iNaturalist app and must be completed using a web browser. It is much easier to do on a laptop or desktop computer but can be completed using a browser on your mobile device.

   2. iOS (iPhone and iPad)

      1. Tap on the “Projects” button at the bottom of the screen

      2. Type “Cooloola” in the search box and tap “Cooloola Bioblitz  (this year's date)”

      3. Tap the “Join” button.

      4. Set up a trust relationship with the project. This allows the project owner to see any obscured observations that might be endangered, vulnerable or threatened. It is imperative that you set this up and recommended that you allow all obscured observations, even those that you mark private. Please watch the "Trusting a Project so obscured coordinates are visible to the project owner" YouTube video to learn how to set this up. Note: This process can't be done in the iNaturalist app and must be completed using a web browser. It is much easier to do on a laptop or desktop computer but can be completed using a browser on your mobile device.

4. Add a Record

   1. Android

      1. Tap the plus sign in the lower right corner of the screen or tap the hamburger menu in the top left and select “New Observation” at the bottom of the list.

      2. Select the “Take Photo” option or if you already have images on your phone, select the “Choose Image” option.

      3. Take the photo and tap “OK” if it is what you want to upload.

      4. Tap on the “What did you see?” option to have iNaturalist try to match your photo with similar images in the database. If one closely matches your photo you can tap the check mark next to select it. You can also just type a species or common name in the “Species Search” box.

      5. Fill in any notes for the sighting, upload another photo if need be.

      6. Tap the “Add to project(s) icon and select the “Cooloola Bioblitz…” option in the list and then tap the check mark at the top right of the screen.

      7. If all looks good, tap the check mark in the top right corner to save the sighting.

   2. iOS (iPhone and iPad)

      1. Click the “Observe” button

      2. Take a photo of a sighting and tap “Next”, or grab one from your camera gallery that you have already taken.

      3. Tap on the “What did you see?” option to have iNaturalist try to match your photo with similar images in the database. If one closely matches your photo you can tap the photo to select it. You can also just type a species or common name in the “Species Search” box.

      4. Fill in any notes for the sighting, upload another photo if needed.

      5. Tap the “Projects” icon and select the “Cooloola Bioblitz…” button on the right side.

      6. Tap the back button, top left, to return to the sighting menu.

      7. If all looks good, tap “SHARE” at the bottom of the screen to upload the record.

1. Point your web browser to https://www.inaturalist.org 

2. Create an Account - If you don’t have an account on iNaturalist, create an account through the web site or via the app on your phone.

3. Join the Cooloola Bioblitz 2022 Collection Project 

4. Set up a trust relationship with the project. This allows the project owner to see any obscured observations that might be endangered, vulnerable or threatened. It is imperative that you set this up and recommended that you allow all obscured observations, even those that you mark private. Please watch the "Trusting a Project so obscured coordinates are visible to the project owner" YouTube video to learn how to set this up. Note: This process can't be done in the iNaturalist app and must be completed using a web browser. It is much easier to do on a laptop or desktop computer but can be completed using a browser on your mobile device.

Take photos with your camera.

Run a GPS or GPS track app on your phone.

On a PC combine them using Geosetter (Windows only)

On the paper form record:

• Details of the sighting

• GPS location from a smartphone or GPS

• Photo name and photographer