GISMO’s RatApp

What is RatApp?

• RatApp is a citizen science survey by GISMO and Ella. We are seeking volunteers to gather information about New York City’s rodent sightings.
• RatApp integrates smartphones, GPS, photos, structured questions, spoken information, language translation, maps, and A.I. to gather information.
• RatApp is NOT connected to or a substitute for NYC311. Data entered on RatApp will not lead to any response or action by any City agencies. Please also consider reporting any sightings through NYC311
• RatApp is designed to document rodent sightings.  Please observe and follow all safety precautions while using RatApp.

Easy As 1..2..3

1. Spot

Share your location on your phone settings by clicking the Green button. This will help us map the rat.

2. Report

Take a photo, but Be Careful! If the rat is too fast, don’t follow it or approach it. A photo of the environment is sufficient.

Next, tell us where you saw the rat. Was it in the garbage, sewer or near a building.

Don’t report rats in the subway. We know they are there. We are trying to map surface level rodent activity.

3. Map

Then tap Submit and you’re done! We will made your rat to our map.

What is RatApp
RatApp is an application developed by Basil Labs Inc. in collaboration with NYC GISMO to gather information from public volunteers about the sighting of rats and mice.  Under the RatApp, all mice and rats will be referred to as “rats”.  RatApp is an experimental application to determine whether an effective means can be found to use smartphones, GPS and photos, to collect data from the public about issues of concern. At the current stage of RatApp development, data collected may be shown to representatives of City government, but it will not be entered as a record into the NYC311 system or forwarded to that system. RatApp is not connected to the NYC Government and is NOT related to the City’s NYC311 Non-Emergency Services System. RatApp users are urged to also call 311 with their rat sightings.

RatApp’s design, coding, and all other related intellectual property is owned by and belongs solely to Basil Labs. [basillabs.org].

What are RatApp Components
Theo Goetemann of Basil Labs will make an online presentation that discusses the different questions that comprise RatApp and the places in the application that are open for data collection. A video of Theo’s presentation and his PowerPoint slides will be posted on line at [gismonyc.org].

Rodents, Rats, and Mice
Generally, a mouse is about three inches long in length excluding tail. A small rat may be of similar or slight larger size. The body of a medium sized rat can range from 4 inches to 8 inches. The body, excluding the tail, of a large rat is 8 inches or more.

How to Collect RatApp Information Safely
For your own safety, please follow the instructions below when collecting information about rats/rodents you observe.

• Rodent sightings may occur at any time during your normal, routine activities in New York City including inside apartments, hallways, basements; and along sidewalks, alleys, courtyards, backyards, and parks. Do not go beyond your normal routes in search of rodents. We want RatApp to give a realistic picture of rodent encounters in the City, almost all of which are based on unplanned, accidental encounters.

• Age of RatApp Users: Users of RatApp must be 18-year of age or older.

• Do not attempt to get into closer proximity to a rodent you spot. If you are in a safe position away from the rodent use your smartphone to open up RatApp. Allow the application to use your GPS, and to upload any pre-prepared information. Then answer questions which will be presented to you as fill in, multiple choice, pull down, or Y/N. You will also have the opportunity to speak into your smartphone to record your observations and feelings. You can initiate a Rat sighting record when the encounter is fresh, and complete it later when you have time. Your spoken text, regardless of the language you use, will be translated into English, if necessary, and then digitized and subjected to analysis using tools able to extract and categorize key information.
  

• Keep your distance from any rodent you observe and do not attempt to get closer. Likely, the rodent, if healthy, will make every effort to run away from you. Do not chase after the rodent or corner it. Rodents will bite when they feel threatened. A picture of the rodent is not necessary to complete a valid rat sighting record.
  
• Subways: Do not record sightings of rodents in the subway system along the station platform or in the track bed. We know the rodents are there – but we don’t want anyone endangering themselves by getting too close to the edge of the platform. Subway rodent sightings will be deleted from the sightings database.
  
• Don’t obstruct other pedestrians. Also, do not step out into the street right-of-way due to the danger posed by moving vehicles.
  
• Take a picture with your smart phone of the area in which you observed the rodent (entering, leaving, rummaging inside garbage bags, running) to show alleys, holes in the ground, sewer catch basins, trash cans, garbage piles and loose food waste.
  
• Be very careful when taking pictures or filling in data to not trip on sidewalk obstacles, and to not

• In the highly unlikely event that you are bitten by a rat you should do the following as soon as possible: Wash out the wound with soap and warm water, and apply an antiseptic. Then call your doctor to report the incident and follow their instructions. Rat Bite: Pictures, Rat-Bite Fever, Treatment, and Complications (healthline.com); Treatment of Rat-bite Fever | Rat-bite Fever (RBF) | CDC

Liability and Indemnification
In order to access and use RatApp users must have fully read and understood the previous paragraphs under the heading “How to Collect RatApp Information Safely.” If you have any questionsplease email GISMO at [gismonyc.projects@gmail.com]. If you access RatApp via your smartphone it is assumed that you have attended the May 1^st briefing session, seen the video recording of that session, and have also read and understood all safety instructions in this document, and agree to abide by them.RatApp volunteer users agree to hold harmless and indemnify the developers and managers of RatApp who work for Basil Labs or who are members of NYC GISMO, for any injury, loss of property, complaint, or legal action resulting from volunteer’s actions, photographs, and use of the RatApp tool and its related programs and procedures.

RatApp Access
Use the following link to access RatApp: [tinyurl.com/RatApp-NYC]
whenever you wish to enter or add to a rodent sighting record