eForestrails - Karnala Mobile App
Introduction
Cellphone tours are popular in the United States however they have not been initiated or utilised in India largely. Navi Mumbai is lucky to have Karnala Bird Sanctuary (KBS) within its municipal limits yet Navi Mumbaikars underappreciate this green zone. They resist venturing on these nature trails on their own for several reasons such as lack of guidance and missing data links about the biodiversity.
KBS is a small sanctuary with an expanse of 12.11 sq.m. and is situated in Panvel Taluka. For urbanised bird lovers, it is a precious birding spot. Despite being small with habitat thickly wooded, it supports and comprises and birdlife of 222 species and is declared an Important Bird Area (IBA).
Fort is one of the historic archaeological features. There are several trails inside this park. There are no tour guides currently available to guide the visitors, hence many of them refuse to venture out. Given the pandemic situation where social distancing is desired while exploring outdoors, mobile technology could be useful which will encourage and boost urbanites to venture out and explore the wilderness on their own.
This project fulfilled five UN’s SDGs (Goal 3,4,8,11,15). Ladybird Environmental Consulting, was roped in as a Knowledgeable Partner as we had previously developed an Android mobile app eForestrails - SGNP for Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Through this mobile app, we believe in decentralizing natural history information through mobile technology and enhancing e-learning for the future generation.
Project Overview
Project Location: Karnala Bird Sanctuary (KBS), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Project Duration: 6 months
Project Partner: Thane Forest Dept. and iNaturewatch Foundation
Funding Agency: DCB Bank Ltd
Project Outcomes:
- A Free mobile app with well-versed tools for urbanites to explore KBS.
- Hands-on access to the database on KBS biodiversity for urbanites.
- GPS tracking and guidance assistance for kids.
- e-Learning through Mobile App.
- Enhancing the values of KBS and reducing the pressure on Forest Department.
- Fulfilment of Biodiversity Aichi Target no. 1,19.
What is a Cellphone Tour?
- It is an audio tour where pre-recorded or stream audio interpretation for a heritage site or a cultural exhibit is provided via a cell phone.
- Cell phone audio tours have the advantage that most visitors already have the equipment needed to take the audio tour, being their cell phones.
- Points of interest of tour stops are identified and a number is allotted to them. The visitor needs to send these numbers to the mobile service provider through the cellphone and listen to the recorded narration.
- It is an innovation replacing the mobile service provider
Project Interventions
Identification and Mapping Points
Mobile App Development and Launching
Identification and Mapping Points
- Choosing 3 trails existing nature trails and identifying POI for each site.
- 20 POI will be identified for each trail that makes up to 60 POI in total.
- Each POI will be assigned a QR code and displayed at the site.
- The trails will be mapped on a GPS gadget.
Data Mining
Mobile App Development and Launching
Identification and Mapping Points
- The data will comprise information about the local flora and fauna that thrives in KBS.
- The content development for the POI will be developed that will include interesting information and facts about the point as well as surrounding areas in the form of a story.
Mobile App Development and Launching
Mobile App Development and Launching
Mobile App Development and Launching
- The app will comprise a brief detail about the 3 Nature trails with 60 POI and Maps
- Each point will have 2 min recorded audio file and information.
- User interface design, interactivity, audio generation, navigation bug fixing, troubleshoot etc.
- Launching on Eco-day under Ladybird Environmental Consultancy.