Cucumber's digital solution: Empowering Kiwis to safeguard their environment
Transforming biosecurity with the Find-A-Pest app for the University of Canterbury
When it comes to environmental preservation and biosecurity, time is of the essence. The earlier a potential threat is identified, the simpler and more cost-effective it is to address. Conversely, as an issue grows in magnitude, so does the complexity and expense of its resolution. Which is why the scientists at Scion, in collaboration with government agencies and primary industry groups, went on the hunt for a proactive and accessible solution to empower individuals in safeguarding their natural surroundings.
In New Zealand, where the unique ecosystem is under constant threat from invasive species, rapid pest identification is paramount. The nation's rich biodiversity is at risk from the introduction of harmful pests, making early detection a frontline defence.
Cucumber came on board from the very early stages of the project. We were responsible for the solution, design and development of both the Android and iOS Find-A-Pest application.
Find-A-Pest was transferred to the University of Canterbury, where it is managed by the School of Forestry. Let's take a closer look at how Find-A-Pest has enabled Kiwis to engage with and protect their environment.
The Challenge: Navigating the biosecurity maze
Responsibility for New Zealand's biosecurity is spread across various groups, each tasked with safeguarding different aspects of the country's ecosystem. However, diversity in responsibilities often leads to diversity in data management. "Whilst it’s important to have many organisations involved in biosecurity, this diversity can also lead to missed knowledge of pest incidences," says Abigail Evans, Find-A-Pest Project Manager in the University's School of Forestry. "If you've got one council managing a pest here and you've got a neighbouring council just across the border, they need to know about it so that they can monitor it too. Biosecurity works best when data is shared."
The challenge at hand was clear: bridge the gaps in understanding and collaboration among the numerous entities responsible for biosecurity in New Zealand. Although there are strong protections at the border, pests will always find ways to get through, which is why Find-A-Pest was created - to encourage the public to identify traces of what could be the presence of pests, and enable agencies the best chance to eliminate or manage these. The combination of protection at the border, and the general public helping to identify new pest locations will protect our native flora and fauna and primary industries.
The first step was to enable people to comprehend their local environment and identify what was considered "normal." Armed with this awareness, they would be better equipped to spot deviations from the norm, potentially signalling the presence of pests or other biosecurity threats.
The solution: Find-A-Pest - empowering the public, strengthening biosecurity
The Find-A-Pest application was developed in 2018, and was originally owned by SCION, but was transferred to UC. Our goal was to provide a user-centric, accessible tool that would not only empower everyday Kiwis but also enhance collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
"What makes Find-A-Pest unique is that people can take a photo of absolutely anything and we're going to come back to them and let them know what they found," Abigail explains. "We can point them in the right direction of some other resources they can look at if needed. If they want to be able to try to control a weed that might be on their farm, then we don't give the advice as the relevant primary industry organisation is best placed to provide the correct advice, but we can point them in the right direction. With Find-A-Pest, they can get the support to know what the pest is. But equally, we get lots of reports of things that aren't pests and even native plants, people observing their environment and noticing what maybe unusual is great as that is when new pests are most likely to be found. The app is an educational tool as well, and we encourage any observation, whether it is actually a pest of not."
Cucumber have recently completed an upgrade of the platform from Xamarin to .NET MAUi, they also updated the UI and UX of the application, including the logo and the illustrations for the new UC Find a Pest ambassador, the Kea. The updated design of the application has created a more modern look and feel and a much easier to use and logical flow for users of the application. There are new onboarding/welcome screens providing clear information to the users on how to use the application, what the purpose of the application is and its overall objective.
Key features of Find-A-Pest include:
Simplified reporting - Find-A-Pest provides a straightforward solution for users to report potential biosecurity threats. All they need to do is take a photo and send it via the app
Critical data capture - location data and contact information are captured with each submission. This information is crucial for pinpointing the exact location of a potential pest and for follow-up communication with the user
Comprehensive feedback - the app is committed to user education. Users receive feedback about the photos they submit, helping them understand what they've found. The app may even direct them to additional resources for further information
Cucumber's expertise extended to all aspects of the solution, including:
The creation and management of the comprehensive database that houses crucial pest information.
The architecture that enables all components of the system to interlink seamlessly
The development of a suite of additional tools, including a separate portal for collaborative pest identification efforts involving various groups.
"If something really important is found, then the right people can get in touch with them to follow up on it. There's obviously a whole scale of new stuff that could cause enormous destruction to our industries, people's lives and enjoyment and comfort. Some pests are really quite invasive. It's essential to be able to talk to people straight away about what they've found, where it is, maybe get a sample if they can send people out to look at it."
Abigail Evans
Find-A-Pest Project Manager in the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry
The results - empowering a nation, one observation at time
Find-A-Pest is more than just a tool; it's a catalyst for change in how Kiwis perceive and protect their environment. "Find-A-Pest is really easy to use, and that encourages more people to use it," says Abigail. "All the partner organisations have access to the pest data, which is great for collaboration and for speedy response times."
Key results and achievements include:
Enhanced environmental awareness - Find-A-Pest has given users the means to learn about pests and understand what's normal in their environment. This heightened environmental awareness is the first line of defence against potential biosecurity threats
Increased vigilance - users are now much more likely to spot deviations from the norm in their environment. This has led to the early detection and reporting of potential pests, minimising the risk of infestations
The results achieved through the Find-A-Pest app showcase the power of technology in engaging Kiwis, promoting a collective sense of responsibility for the nation's environment and biosecurity initiatives.
The collaboration between UC and Cucumber has been very positive. Abigail emphasises not only Cucumber's responsiveness when issues crop up, but UC’s appreciation that they're treated the same way as a corporate client would be. "Find-A-Pest is completely free to use," she explains. "We have no way of generating our own income. We're fully grant-funded, we can't just throw money at a problem. Cucumber are really understanding that we're not a big corporate client."
Abigail goes on to underscore Cucumber's willingness to engage, "They're really open and honest about how they can help us and then finding solutions that are going to work for us."
Find-A-Pest is more than just an app; it's a powerful tool designed to democratise biosecurity. It enables every Kiwi to become a guardian of their environment by providing an easy-to-use platform for pest identification and reporting. By equipping individuals with the knowledge of what is normal in their surroundings, the app allows them to spot anomalies and swiftly report potential threats. This simplicity in reporting information can make all the difference in preserving the unique biodiversity of New Zealand.
If you'd like to have a chat about a similar tech project and how Cucumber can help, let's talk.