SMART Software
SMART Biodiversity Software — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is SMART Biodiversity?
SMART Biodiversity is a software platform designed to help conservation teams collect, manage, analyze, and report biodiversity and threat-monitoring data in the field and office. It supports standardized data collection, workflow management, spatial mapping, and performance tracking for conservation projects.
Who uses SMART Biodiversity?
Conservation practitioners, protected-area managers, community rangers, NGOs, government agencies, researchers, and donors use SMART Biodiversity to monitor wildlife, habitats, human pressures (e.g., poaching, illegal logging), and conservation interventions.
What are the core features?
Mobile data collection: Customizable forms for species sightings, incident reports, patrol effort, habitat assessments, and more. Works offline with synchronization.
Data management: Centralized database with quality checks, validation rules, and user roles.
Spatial mapping: Visualize incident locations, patrol routes, camera-trap points, and habitat layers.
Analytics and indicators: Preconfigured and customizable indicators (e.g., encounter rates, detection probabilities, patrol effort metrics) with charts and trend analyses.
Reporting: Export tables, charts, maps, and standardized reports for stakeholders and donors.
Integration: Import/export capabilities for GIS data and common file formats; APIs for connecting with other systems.
Team management: Assignments, task tracking, and performance dashboards.
How does offline/mobile data collection work?
Field users install the SMART mobile app on Android devices. The app stores forms and map layers locally so users can collect data without cellular or Wi‑Fi. When connectivity is available, the app synchronizes data with the central server. Conflict resolution and upload status are managed within the app.
Which platforms are supported?
The mobile application runs on Android. The web application is accessible through modern browsers on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Server deployment options typically include cloud-hosted or on-premises installations depending on organizational needs.
What file types and data formats are supported? SMART Biodiversity supports common formats: CSV for tabular data, GeoJSON and Shapefiles for spatial data, JPEG/PNG for images, and standard export formats (PDF, PNG) for reports. APIs support JSON for integrations.
Is the software customizable? Yes. Forms, fields, validation rules, and indicator calculations can be configured to match project protocols. Map layers and dashboard widgets can be tailored to user roles and monitoring priorities.
How is data quality ensured?
Validation rules and mandatory fields in forms reduce entry errors.
Date/time and GPS stamping ensure accurate spatial-temporal records.
Review workflows allow supervisors to validate and flag records.
Data cleaning tools and audit logs track edits and provenance.
What analytics and indicators are available?
Common built-in indicators include:
Encounter per unit effort (e.g., sightings per km patrolled)
Detection rates (e.g., camera-trap detection per 100 trap-nights)
Patrol coverage and effort (e.g., patrol-days, km walked)
Incident types and trends (e.g., poaching events, snares removed) Users can create custom indicators and time-series analyses.
Can the system be used for camera-trap data? Yes. Camera-trap metadata and images can be uploaded and associated with spatial and temporal records. The platform supports summarizing trap effort, detection histories, and basic camera-trap analytics. Integration with specialized camera-trap processing workflows or third-party AI image classifiers can be configured.
How are user roles and permissions handled? Role-based access controls let administrators assign roles (e.g., field ranger, data manager, analyst, viewer) with specific permissions for data entry, editing, validation, exporting, and configuration. Permissions can be scoped by site, unit, or project.
How secure is the data?
Data security measures typically include:
Encrypted data transmission between app and server
Secure authentication and password policies
Role-based access control
Audit logs for changes For on-premises deployments, organizations control server security. For cloud deployments, hosting providers and software administrators implement best-practice security measures.
What are deployment options?
Cloud-hosted: Software hosted and managed by the service provider or a cloud partner. Lower IT overhead for users.
On-premises: Installed on organization-controlled servers for complete data control and compliance. Deployment choice depends on data governance, budget, and connectivity requirements.
How much training is required? Basic user training (field data entry and app use) often requires a few hours to a day. Data manager and analyst training (server administration, configuration, indicator setup) typically requires several days, plus ongoing mentoring for complex workflows. Training materials, user guides, and remote support are usually provided.
How does SMART Biodiversity integrate with other systems? SMART Biodiversity supports data import/export (CSV, GeoJSON, Shapefile) and APIs to push/pull data to external dashboards,
