Training and instructions, for everyone

iPlover Training and Documentation
• A mobile web app to collect location and
environmental attribute information about PIPL nests
• Observations can be fuzzy or uncertain
• Our models account for that
• There are alternative methods to help estimate some
parameters

• Used to drive research models of habitat evolution and
utilization
• Data and models used to inform land- and speciesmanagement decision making at local to regional scales

Today's How-to's
• Set up the iPhone with the iPlover security certificate
• Access the iPlover URL
• Use the application
• Collect data using draft field protocols
• Upload data to USGS

• Get help
• Provide feedback
• Troubleshoot

• Q&A

Install and activate
security certificate (1/2)
1

Open email with
certificate file;
tap file icon
(can use the built-in
mail app or the
browser, e.g., to
access mail.doi.gov)

2

Tap Install

3

Tap Install Now
("unsigned" means it is
not signed by a
recognized entity like
Verisign or TRUSTe; it's
locally generated and
signed by USGS)

Install and activate
security certificate (2/2)
4

If your iPhone
has a Passcode,
enter it

5

6

Enter the
certificate
password

Tap Done

(supplied verbally by
iPlover dev team)

("Not Trusted" means
it is not signed by a
recognized entity like
Verisign or TRUSTe; it's
locally generated and
signed by USGS)

Access the iPlover web
app (1/3)
1

2

Tap Safari icon to
start the browser

Get browser page
(you may not have any
bookmarks yet, as
shown here)

3

Enter the URL,
iplover.org; tap
Go

Access the iPlover web
app (2/3)

OMB 1028-NEW
Privacy and Paperwork
Reduction Act statements: 16
U.S.C. 1a7 authorized
collection of this information.
This information will be used
by the U.S. Geological Survey
to better serve the public.
Response to this request is
voluntary. No action may be
taken against you for refusing
to supply the information
requested. We will not
distribute responses
associated with you as an
individual. We ask you for
some basic organizational
and contact information to
help us interpret the results
and, if needed, to contact you
for clarification.
We estimate that it will take
5 minutes for a user to
capture and update their
sighting.
Comments on this collection
should be sent to the
Clearance Office at
[email protected]

4

Splash screen
shows USGS
identifier, app
name, version,
OMB information
(full text to left)

5

App Home page
loads

6

Tap the Share
icon
(this will allow saving
as a bookmark for
later easy-to-find use)

Access the iPlover web
app (3/3)
7

Tap Bookmark

8

Tap Save

9

Bookmark now
available
whenever you
access the
browser

When to Collect
iPlover Data
Preferences
Describe nest site in sync with
vegetation phenology and
geomorphology (i.e., near the time of
nest initiation or full clutch)
Collect at the same time you are doing a
close nest-approach for other reasons.
(Biggest concern is unexclosed nests at
locations with plover-focused avian
predators. Lower priority concerns are
weather and direct effects of
disturbance.)

Using iPlover
Two basic functions:
1) Collect
2) Submit

Using iPlover – Collect
Data
Space for notes
Site info
1) Site ID
2) Photo
3) Location
Geologic info
1) Setting
2) Substrate

Biologic info
1) Veg. type
2) Veg. density

SAVE!

Site info (ID, Photo,
Location)
1

Tap New Nest
Site to start data
collection

2

Apps must ask to
use the GPS
(only the first time);

Tap OK

3

GPS starts
computing
location for 60
seconds;
accuracy should
improve with
time

4

Tap Show Map to
see map with
Accuracy Ring
(ring will get smaller as
accuracy improves)

Nest location
No

Yes

1-2 m

Site info (ID, Photo,
Location)
5

What if I get great accuracy (2-5 m) almost
instantly?

Tap Lock Location to save the current GPS fix,
and move on.

Site info (ID, Photo,
Location)
5

If my accuracy is poor (>-15-20 m), what should
I do? When should I stop trying to get better
data?
The GPS will stop automatically after 60
seconds. If accuracy is poor, tap Refresh to start
another 60 second attempt. If accuracy
improves, great. If not, move on.

Nest photo
1

Tap Choose File
attach a photo to
the site

2

3

Choose from the
options (Take

Take picture, tap
Use Photo (or

Photo used here)

Retake if you want
a do-over)

4

Tap Show Map to
see map with
Accuracy Ring
(ring will get smaller as
accuracy improves)

Nest photo width of
field
5m

nest
Unzoomed iPhone 5S camera width of field is about 6 m
(~20 ft) at 5 m (~16 ft) from subject.
(Stand 5 m from nest and you're good to go.)

Nest photo
considerations
Stand about 5 m from nest.
Place nest in center of field of
view.
Don't use zoom.
What direction you are facing
doesn't matter. (But don't shoot into
the sun.)

Avoid shadows if possible (yours,
other people, trees, shrubs, etc.).

Site ID
considerations
Use the same system that your
Refuge or Park uses.
Be consistent.

A suggested
workflow…
1) Go to app Home page.
2) Approach nest and establish
your position.
3) Tap New Nest Site to start
the GPS.
4) Get good GPS fix. (If good
accuracy is quick, tap Lock
Location; otherwise wait and try
Refresh.)

5) Move to 5 m from nest and
take picture.
6) Move away from nest to
complete Site ID and other
data fields.

Using iPlover – Collect Data
Space for notes
Site info
1) Site ID
2) Photo
3) Location
Geologic info
1) Setting
2) Substrate

Biologic info
1) Veg. type
2) Veg. density

SAVE!

Geomorphic Setting
These are "radio buttons".

You can only pick one.
Tap on the button or the text to
select.
The selected button will darken.

Geomorphic Setting
description
Next slides

dune
Upper beach

wrack line
beach

A wrack line as well as slight scarp separates upper beach from beach

Low dune/foredune.

dune
Low dune/foredune.
Landward limit of upper
beach

Low dune/foredune.

Low dune/foredune.

Low dune/foredune.

Low dune/foredune.

Blow out

Dune.

Dune.

Washover/overwash
Break in dune crest and vegetation line
Subtle dune crest here

Edge of overwash fan

x

Barrier interior.

x

Chincoteague "Hook"

Beach ridge-swale.

Substrate Type
These are "radio buttons".

You can only pick one.
Tap on the button or the text to
select.
The selected button will darken.

Substrate Type
description
Forest/Shrub

Wetland

Unknown

Sandy

Using iPlover – Collect Data
Space for notes
Site info
1) Site ID
2) Photo
3) Location
Geologic info
1) Setting
2) Substrate

Biologic info
1) Veg. type
2) Veg. density

SAVE!

Vegetation Type
These are "radio buttons".

You can only pick one.
Tap on the button or the text to
select.
The selected button will darken.

Vegetation Type
description
Woody

Herbaceous

Water

Shell Bed

Gravel/Cobble

Vegetation Density
These are "radio buttons".

You can only pick one.
Tap on the button or the text to
select.
The selected button will darken.

Vegetation Density
description
Next slides

No vegetation (bare surface)

Sparse <20%

Sparse <20%

Sparse <20%

Moderate (20-90% vegetation cover)

Sparse

x

sparse <20%

moderate veg.

Sparse veg.

Moderate 20-90%

Moderate 20-90%

Moderate 20-90%

Moderate 20-90%

Moderate 20-90% (could also be Dense >90%)

Dense >90%

Dense >90%

Using iPlover – Collect Data
Space for notes
Site info
1) Site ID
2) Photo
3) Location
Geologic info
1) Setting
2) Substrate

Biologic info
1) Veg. type
2) Veg. density

SAVE!

Notes
This is a free text entry field. It
can handle up to XXXX
characters.
Tap in the white area to bring up
the keyboard.
Add any supplemental
information you think is
important, such as:
) nest status (active, failed, fledged)
) exclosed
) uncertainty of any observations

Using iPlover – Collect Data
Space for notes
Site info
1) Site ID
2) Photo
3) Location
Geologic info
1) Setting
2) Substrate

Biologic info
1) Veg. type
2) Veg. density

SAVE!

Saving Data
When you are finished entering
data, tap the Save Nest Data
button.
All data are saved locally on the
iPhone.
The app checks to make sure you
entered all the required data.
After saving, the app returns to
the Home page.

Using iPlover – Submit Data (1/2)
1

2

3

4

bug
correct

Tap Upload Data
(a counter shows how
many sites [records]
you have stored on the
phone)

Tap Upload n
Site(s) to begin
data submission
to USGS database

Progress bar will
move from 0100% for each
site (record) as it
is uploaded

When complete,
record count will
update, button
grays out
(lower left shows
success or error for
each record)

Using iPlover – Submit Data (2/2)
5

Tap Home to
return to Home
page

6

The app is ready
to go again

Some Quirks and Tips
Uploads

Photos

Use a wifi, LTE,
or 4G
connection.

This will initially
be 10. Then 25.
Then 50.

Don't even try
to upload on an
EDGE
connection.

Depending on
how often you
restart the app,
you may not
see this
message.

Apple is protective
of your browser and
photos. iOS will ask
if you want to
increase database
size after a few sites
are collected. Tap
Increase.

Data uploads will
sometimes fail

Some Quirks and Tips
You can practice with the app!

Any site that
starts with
the word
"test" (and
variants like
those on
the right)
will not be
used as real
data.

Getting Help
email

telephone
Rob Thieler (USGS), 508-922-7108 (cell)
• any question or complaint
• before 17 June, 7a-9p EDT
• 17 June – 25 July, problematic (at sea)

[email protected]
v
put iPlover in subject

Megan Hines (USGS), 608-821-3917 (office, Wisconsin)
• technical support questions
• 10a-6p EDT, M-F

Describe problem, or
ask for a phone call.
Provide contact info.

Jordan Read (USGS), 608-821-3922 (office, Wisconsin)
• technical support questions
• 10a-6p EDT, M-F

Sarah Karpanty (Va Tech), 540-557-7432 (cell)
•
•

science, field description questions
call "anytime"

Anne Hecht (FWS), [email protected]

Email to
iplover_help goes
to 9 people on the
team. We'll get
back to you!

•

or call 978-443-4325 (office)

•

leave call-back number

•

how to maximize the value of iPlover data collection
while minimizing adverse effects on plover breeding
activity

If all else fails, try this…
(method 1/2)
1

Press Home button
twice; brings up
running apps

2

Flick Safari up to make
it quit

3

Enter iplover.org URL
manually, then tap Go

If all else fails, try this…
(method 2/2)
1

Tap Settings

2

Scroll down and tap
Safari

3

Tap Clear History, then
tap Clear Cookies and
Data (an "Are you sure?"
prompt will appear for
each)

Give Us Feedback!
This is a science project. It can only succeed (and inform plover management) with
your participation and feedback.
Please tell us what you think. Send feedback to iplover_help (put "iPlover
feedback" in the subject line.
Changes to workflow? Layout of the screen? Describing nest site attributes? Too
burdensome? Not collecting enough information? Problems with the iPhone?
Problems with data/calling plan? Other?