Executive Summary
I-Tracker (short for ‘Indigenous Tracker’) is a
network of Indigenous land and sea managers across remote north
Australia using CyberTracker to collect and manage information
about natural and cultural resources. The I-Tracker support network
was developed by the North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea
Management Alliance (NAILSMA) as a part of the Dugong and Marine
Turtle Project and in association with Djelk Rangers and GhostNets
Australia in response to requests from Indigenous rangers for user
friendly tools to facilitate the collection and reporting of ranger
patrol data.
The primary purpose of I-Tracker is to facilitate the collation
and analysis of data for reports to guide ranger and Traditional
Owner decision making and to provide results of patrols and
activities to external parties such as funding agencies and
government departments. I-Tracker uses CyberTracker software
because it is easy to use, free to download and upgrade, and
designed for community users with limited literacy and numeracy. In
addition, it can link to GIS packages, offers a very good help
service, and modifications to existing software can be requested
based on emerging needs of participants. By agreement with the
CyberTracker organisation, I-Tracker is registered as part of the
CyberTracker Worldwide Network.
Commencing in mid 2008, NAILSMA and GhostNets Australia
collaborated to conduct a trial of I-Tracker involving 17
Indigenous sea ranger groups across north Australia. Each trial
participant was provided with a TDS Nomad® handheld computer
and accompanying support package, which included a sea ranger
patrol ‘sequence’ that allows rangers to record a
variety of information while conducting sea country patrols.
As a part of the I-Tracker trial, a review was conducted between
March and June 2009 to evaluate the I-Tracker trial and explore
options for future roll-out of an I-Tracker support program. Major
outcomes and findings of the review include:
- I-Tracker is well-accepted among Indigenous sea ranger programs
as a powerful tool for collecting and managing patrol data.
- Operational uptake of I-Tracker was influenced by a range of
factors including the perceived relevance to immediate operational
requirements, available support and training and IT issues and
requirements.
- IT issues are a barrier to regular uptake of I-Tracker; these
issues are often embedded in the corporate IT environment of the
ranger host program, and these problems are likely to be ongoing.
IT issues will likely be increasingly important with the growing
‘computerisation’ of ranger offices.
- On site training is both demanded and required to increase the
uptake and regular use of I-Tracker.
- Within and outside of participating groups, people have
identified a wide range of uses for CyberTracker-based monitoring
including natural and cultural resources monitoring and recording
of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge.
- There is significant interest in the I-Tracker concept from
outside organisations.
- There is strong support for I-Tracker among potential external
‘end users’ including government agencies and research
organisations who see the benefits of CyberTracker monitoring and
reporting capabilities.
- The I-Tracker review has demonstrated that data collected using
CyberTracker can be shared and incorporated into one database to
produce cross-regional analyses of ranger patrol data and
observations.
- During the I-Tracker trial, 11 participating groups collected
and shared (for the purposes of this report) a total of 3,408
sightings over 266 patrol days.
- Intellectual Property issues require careful consideration for
the future roll-out of I-Tracker.
- A coordinated approach to I-Tracker provides the means to:
-
- identify the needs for and undertake development of new
sequences;
- ensure standardisation of data collection thereby supporting
cross-regional comparisons and data sharing;
- nsure that sequences are shared across north Australia
(reducing duplication and inefficient use of resources);
- facilitate scientific input into sequence development;
- ensure delivery of consistent quality-assured and accredited
training to users; and
- provide web-based system for data management and sharing.
