About the Observer application for iPhone

The Observer is an application for smart phones that allows you to quickly and efficiently report wild plant occurrences. This application makes it easy for you to report the species name, date, and location of over 10,000 California native and non-native plant taxa. You can also add a photograph to a report, and share it with others later to confirm identification. Your reports are transmitted wirelessly to the Calflora database, where you can edit them and see them on a map.

The iPhone version of the app is available
from this iTunes page:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/calflora/id605784318?mt=8

 

To use the application, you need to REGISTER AS A CONTRIBUTOR.

(If you are already registered on Calflora, but not as a contributor, enter your password and press EDIT MY ACCOUNT.)

When you upload observations from your phone, they go into the database in an unpublished state. You can use the My Observations application to edit your observations, and when they are ready, publish them so that they are visible to other Calflora users.

INSTALL THE APPLICATION:

1. REGISTER for a Calflora account, if you do not already have one. Be sure to register as a contributor at the same time.

2. DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION On iTunes, search for "Calflora"

RUN THE APPLICATION:

1. Run the application. LOGIN using the same email address and password you used to register.

2. Press the Download Lists tab and download one or more plant lists. Note that plant list names that begin with "local" (such as "local plants") include only plants that have been observed near your current location. (Make your own plant lists, or look closely at predefined lists, with this application: Plant List Definition)

3. Press the Make Obs tab. Select Pick a new plant , and then choose one of the plant lists you just downloaded. Scroll through the list of plants, and touch the name of a plant.

On the plant detail screen, press Select to make an observation of this plant.

Once you are back at a place with a strong WiFi signal, turn your phone's WiFi on.
Press the Upload Obs tab to upload your observations to the server.

4. Once you have uploaded some observations, go to the My Observations application to edit and publish them.

5. Thank you for helping us with this application. When you find elements that need to be fixed or improved, please write us with your feedback or comments. To make this easier, there is a link on the Utilities screen of the application that will let you send comments from your phone.

See iPhone Instructions for details about how to use the app (warning: this page has many large graphics).

We need your input on how this application can be improved. We are eager to hear any feedback or comments you may have. If you would like to get involved more directly, please write.