# Collaborating with communities: Citizen Science Flood Monitoring in Urban Informal Settlements

**Authors:** Erich Wolff, Matthew French, Noor Ilhamsyah, Mere Jane Sawailau, Diego Ramirez-Lovering  
**arXiv:** [2112.07128](https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.07128)  
**Date:** 2021-12-14  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/2112.07128v1/

## Key points

- Citizen science can include marginalized urban communities in flood risk reduction planning processes
- The Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environment (RISE) Program collected over 5000 photos from community members in Fiji and Indonesia
- Citizen science projects can engage communities in risk management and gain support from local authorities
- Access to technology and familiarity with communication platforms can influence community engagement
- Adapting frameworks and practices to local contexts is important in citizen science initiatives
- Acknowledging contributors publicly as "contributors of the month" was effective in gathering flood data in Indonesia
- Citizen science promotes participatory risk management practices and gives voice to marginalized communities in climate change adaptation efforts.

## Summary

This article explores the potential of citizen science in including marginalized urban communities in flood risk reduction planning processes. The case study focuses on the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environment (RISE) Program, which collected over 5000 photos taken by community members living in informal settlements in Fiji and Indonesia between 2018 and 2020. The study discusses the method used, outlines the main results, and provides lessons learned for future citizen science environmental monitoring projects. The findings suggest that citizen science projects can be valuable tools for engaging communities in risk management. In Indonesia, local authorities expressed interest in such projects, highlighting the importance of identifying supportive stakeholders. It is also crucial to consider how citizen science projects offer data back to the community, ensuring that residents have access to relevant project results that can help them manage disaster risks at a local scale. The case study reveals that unequal access to technology and familiarity with communication platforms can influence community engagement. Participants from Fiji reported being less familiar with messaging applications and sharing photos through the internet compared to participants from Makassar. Therefore, it is essential for citizen science initiatives to consider existing communication practices and technologies used by community members. To improve engagement and consistent monitoring, RISE's flood-monitoring framework adapted to better communicate with participants. This highlights the importance of adapting frameworks and practices to local contexts within planning and citizen science fields. In Indonesia, acknowledging contributors publicly as "contributors of the month" proved effective in gathering flood data. Overall, this case study demonstrates how citizen science can collect valuable data while promoting participatory risk management practices. By involving marginalized communities in flood risk reduction planning processes, these initiatives provide opportunities for local voices to be heard in climate change adaptation efforts.