Antoni Caparrós Prize to RiuNet: Citizen science and awareness for a better quality in rivers
Any person with a smartphone and Internet access can collaborate in research, management and preservation of rivers thanks to RiuNet, a phone app on citizen science developed by the Freshwater Ecology and Management Research Group (FEM) of the Water Research Institute (IdRA) of the UB. This interactive tool, awarded with the Antoni Caparrós Prize to the best project on knowledge transfer, technology and innovation, allows users to know more about the fluvial ecosystems and at the same time, assess their ecological quality and water state in a simple, fun and rigorous way.
Any person with a smartphone and Internet access can collaborate in research, management and preservation of rivers thanks to RiuNet, a phone app on citizen science developed by the Freshwater Ecology and Management Research Group (FEM) of the Water Research Institute (IdRA) of the UB. This interactive tool, awarded with the Antoni Caparrós Prize to the best project on knowledge transfer, technology and innovation, allows users to know more about the fluvial ecosystems and at the same time, assess their ecological quality and water state in a simple, fun and rigorous way.
Using several indicators, such as the presence of a gallery forest, lack of water flow, whether there is waste, or the organisms that live in the ecosystem, users can assess aspects such as the hydro-morphological, biological and hydrological quality of the rivers, key factors in the management of these ecosystems. This information is confirmed by the researchers, and later on it is available for experts and water managers such as the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) and the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHX), as well as other people interested in the project.