QWild

Project Info

Team Name

Big Sunday

Team Members

Gen , Ivan , Aaron

Project Description

QWild Logo

Team Members

🐨 Aaron Charlton | Team Captain, Web Developer
🦘 Ivan von Christ | UX/UI Designer
🦇 Genevieve Carter | Web Developer

Project Description

Wildlife across Queensland and Australia are faced with numerous threats, both environmental and man-made. It is a harsh reality that if action is not taken, we risk some species becoming threatened or extinct. Queensland is known for its variety of wildlife. With temperatures increasing and 60% of Queensland in drought, local wildlife volunteer groups come under strain, especially when some calls could be avoided if people had the right information. QWild aims to educate people on local wildlife in their area, help residents connect with their local environment and provide care instructions & contact numbers if they come across an injured animal.

Explanation of QWild - What does it do?

Users can explore the map to view the locations of wildlife, as well as search using the search functionality to query the QLD Wildlife Data API and return results specific to the user's interests i.e. Search for wallabies, or snakes. When QWild home page loads initially, koalas are displayed using a custom koala icon.
QWild also supports an AR (augmented reality) experience, allowing users to scan QWild Card markers found in local parks and nature reserves. Upon scanning the card, a 3D model of a local animal and information card will appear on the user's phone. We feel that this would be a great way to educate younger audiences about the importance of protecting local wildlife and the environment they live in. By 2050 it is anticipated that VR and AR will be commonly used as a method of education. By utilising AR within QWild, we can effectively engage younger generations. This is highly important, as it will be these generations who are responsible for protecting the environment into the future.
Users can learn about Indigenous words for local animals using the translator tool on the homepage.
The Wildlife Sighting Report form can be used to feed data and information back to local councils and the government to assist in maintaining accurate records.
Information is provided about the care of injured animals people may come across, to provide education and ensure that residents help only when it is safe to do so, as well as have easy access to relevant contact details. QWild also aims to ensure that users are educated and do not interfere with wildlife unnecessarily. As a result, local volunteer wildlife organisations will only need to assist where needed.

QWild will encourage residents to learn more about the world around them and the species of wildlife that they share their backyards with, creating a greater sense of understanding and empathy.

By providing an interactive experience, it will help foster appreciation for long term protection and conservation of the environment, both now and into the future.

QWild Demo Image

Features

Interactive Wildlife Map
Wildlife search functionality
Augmented Reality (AR) prototype
Injured animal FAQ
Indigenous animal name translator
Animal Sighting Report form

Augmented Reality Demo!

To test out the AR demo, follow the below instructions:

Visit this link on your phone
For best results, ensure there is no glare on your computer screen
Point your phone at the below marker of the QWild logo
A demo AR model should appear!

AR Demo Marker Image
Demo Image

Challenges Nominated

Queensland OpenAPI (National)
Thrive or survive: how can we adapt for the future? (National)
Optimise energy and water resource planning (National)
Environment and Science Data (Regional: Queensland)
Indigenous Languages (Regional: Queensland)
The best use of Gold Coast Data (Regional: Queensland)

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Data Story

Data Used

City of Gold Coast - Fauna

The City of Gold Coast - Fauna data provides a baseline for our interactive map. By visualising this geojson data Queenslanders can begin to understand and connect with the local fauna in their environment. The Gold Coast region has diverse local fauna, which is a perfect starting point for our project.

Queensland Government Open Data - SLQ Indigenous Languages Word Lists

The Queensland Government's Indigenous language dataset for names of Brisbane animals has bee utilised to assist in preserving Aboriginal languages and help connect residents with the original owners of the land. This dataset has been utilised within the homepage of QWild and allows users to toggle between languages of the Yugara, Yugarabul, Yugambeh and Turubul people. The relevant Indigenous names of common Brisbane animals appear below the image of the animal. In the future further information about Indigenous people and their relationship to wildlife could be added to enrich the QWild experience.

Queensland Government Open Data - WildNet Koala Locations

It’s hard to say exactly how many koalas are still remaining (estimates lie around 80,000), but they are highly vulnerable to threats including deforestation, disease and the effects of climate change. We have used the WildNet Koala locations dataset to plot locations of koala sightings on an interactive map. Not only will this educate Queensland residents about koala habitats, but this also acts as a visualisation tool to understand which areas require a focus on conversation of the environment and protection from natural threats such as bushfires.

Queensland Government Open Data - QLD Wildlife Data API

The WildLife Data API (or QLD WildNet) provides an extensive API for wildlife in Queensland. We have used this data to allow Queenslanders to search for information and locations that animals have been surveyed. This rich information also allows users to understand which animals are endemic or are considered a pest. We used this API in conjunction with the Gold Coast Fauna API to retrieve additional information in realtime regarding fauna.