The Waite Conservation Reserve App has been developed to enhance the experience for all visitors to the Waite Conservation Reserve, located at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus.
The app provides navigation aids, with full hi-resolution aerial image background map screens showing all of the major trails and minor tracks. Using location services from mobile devices the app will show users where they are located within the Reserve and give them the opportunity to choose which tracks or trails they wish to follow. A blue location dot will move around with the user as they move through the Reserve.
The main map screen ‘Where Am I’ function will locate the visitor within the Reserve and clearly shows all of the entry/exit gates with emergency service vehicle access gates indicated with red vehicle icons. This is particularly important as it will enable security/emergency services to be directed towards the closest access point for any situation that may occur where their services would be needed.
Screenshots from Android App
Various major features are displayed in the map screens, with picnic table and bench seats included along with the names and details of donors that have provided funding for these facilities. Information signs that occur within the Reserve have icons at their locations which if tapped will provide further information on the various ecological and historical values of specific locations and plant communities. Along with detailed images and descriptions of local fauna and flora found within the Reserve.
This level of detailed information is not currently available to visitors to the Reserve, and it is for this very reason that the app was developed. It will allow visitors to achieve a more thorough understanding of the nature of the vegetation communities within the Reserve – particularly the Nationally Threatened Ecological Community – Grey Box Grassy Woodland, and the battle to re-instate this vegetation community undertaken by volunteers (Friends of the Waite Conservation Reserve) and contractors over the years, removing the dense thickets of Olive trees that had overtaken and were heavily impacting the integrity of this remnant woodland vegetation.
One of the unique features of the Waite Conversation Reserve App is the inclusion of audio files of Kaurna spoken words that relate to natural features that occur within the Reserve. These files are shown with headphone icons and are located within the Reserve at places where they seemed most appropriate. The words are spoken and recorded by local Kaurna people and were provided for the app by the Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP) Team based at the University of Adelaide. This team produces Kaurna language resources, especially online media and the Kaurna Language Hub to support the learning and teaching of the Kaurna language. (source: https://able.adelaide.edu.au/humanities/kaurna-warra-pintyanthi-kwp-team)
Dr Jennifer Gardner and Ms Marian McDuie with App Developer Chris Carthew produced the App. Production was supported by Green Adelaide, the University of Adelaide, the Friends of the Waite Conservation Reserve and the Friends of the Waite Arboretum. The Waite Conservation Reserve App is free to download for both Android and iPhones.
For more information, please contact arboretum@adelaide.edu.au