The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
EPA is launching an effort called the Apps for the Environment Challenge that encourages private software developers to make smart phone Apps that use EPA’s data to help people and communities make decisions that affect their lives.
Watch this video about the EPA's environmental app challenge here.
I live in a community off the Chesapeake Bay and I love practically anything to do with being on or near the water! But I like different conditions for different activities. Sometimes I like wind and a high tide for windsurfing. Other times I like it still with a low tide for finding fossil shark teeth along the beach, and sometimes I like a changing tide for fishing. In addition to the water conditions, it’s also nice to know if storms are coming so I can get off the water before lightning strikes, and how sunny it’s going to be so I can make sure to bring my hat and sunscreen. And if I get lucky and catch some fish, it’s nice to know the minimum fish size I can keep and whether it’s safe to eat.
I know that EPA as well as other federal and state agencies already provide access to lots of information I could use to help plan these and other adventures online. But it sure would be great if this and other environmental information was more easily available, in one place and accessible on the go. Now, my wish is coming true!
EPA is launching an effort called the Apps for the Environment Challenge that encourages private software developers to make smart phone Apps that use EPA’s data (and other sources of data) to help people and communities make decisions that affect their lives. Apps for the Environment provides all the details (like rules and judging criteria), and lots of helpful resources like links to EPA’s data, ideas for new apps, a list of existing environmental apps, and even a discussion forum.
So how you can you get involved? If you are a developer, enter the challenge! If you know developers, tell them about our challenge and encourage them to enter. Or if you’re not a developer but like me, you have an idea for an app that you wish existed, post your idea on the discussion forum for developers to see and consider!
EPA is sponsoring this exciting new challenge as a way to put environmental information in the hands of people and help them make environmentally-informed decisions. I’m hopeful for a useful app or two for my water adventures, so I guess I better start looking at those waterproof smart phones!
