The use of smart devices in environmental sensing systems is a rapidly growing field, but the “human touch” is integral to the process of saving lives and informing evacuation plans before potentially catastrophic events such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions, says Dr Gaathier Mahed, Department Head of Geosciences.
Dr Mahed and team’s research article, ‘Accuracy assessment of smart devices for Geoscience field mapping’, published in the South African Journal of Geomatics in 2022, highlights this year’s National Science Week theme: ‘Living in a high-tech world: should we be concerned?’, he says.
“The paper (focuses on) the importance of why we need to be aware of technology, and the possible impacts it can have on our lives,” he explains.
“We need to question the validity of aspects of technology and be critical of the results stemming from it.”
Citizen science?
Geoscience, the study of earth and the processes which occur both on and beneath its surface, is a critical tool for determining how we will be impacted by these processes, says Dr Mahed.
“Through environmental monitoring, we are able to assess possible environmental impact on people’s lives and infrastructure. We can then develop early warning systems and, in turn, evacuate people before a natural disaster.”
Advances in environmental monitoring have led to the development of several early warning systems, involving deploying sensors and distributed sensor networks, along with smart phones and tablets.
A sensor is a device used to monitor specific environmental factors and their changes over time. They are normally put in the field and used to measure changes to better understand the surrounding environment.
“This could be the future of citizen science,” says Dr Mahed. “In line with this, our team of Earth Scientists measured the efficacy of smart devices to see whether or not technology can actually be trusted.”
Their research concluded that while we can trust the science, we cannot yet trust the devices, he says. “We need to calibrate and get better precision on them in order for them to be more useful.”
Footsteps in the field
The study, conducted from 2021 – 2022, examined the measurement of fractures near Beaufort West, South Africa, utilising traditional geological methods alongside modern mobile technology.
“A field study used a Brunton Truarc 15 Compass and mobile devices – specifically, an iPad and smartphones. The accuracy of the mobile devices was compared to the compass using statistical methods.”
Findings highlighted significant discrepancies between mobile device measurements and traditional geological compass readings, underscoring the necessity for instrument calibration, says Dr Mahed.
In terms of accuracy, then, we might be “off, or slightly miss the mark, with modern technology,” due to a multitude of factors, including discrepancies potentially emanating from the accelerometers within various devices, and their calibration.
To improve smart technology accuracy, the research team made several recommendations, including taking multiple measurements of the same surface, and considering external factors that may influence measurements, such as proximity to metallic objects.
Back to basics
Is there room for both traditional and tech-driven geoscience in the field? Dr Mahed believes that there is, if we proceed with caution.
“Fieldwork is crucial in geology, offering insights into Earth’s history. Technological advancements, particularly in smartphones and apps, have transformed geological studies.
“While these devices provide convenience and efficiency, their reliability remains questionable, necessitating a careful examination of their accuracy in a geological context.
“The increasing accessibility of smartphones has made them integral to students’ fieldwork, but we warn against over-reliance on mobile apps without thorough validation.”
If we began relying completely on smart technology, potential negative consequences could be disastrous, he says.
“Our measurements in the field might be slightly incorrect, and this has major implications for mapping and, in turn, construction.
“If the incorrect information is fed to the engineers, then they could make decisions which will impact lives.”
As technology evolves, he says, integrating mobile devices into geological practices offers potential benefits – but reliance on these tools must be tempered with caution.
The study calls for a balanced approach, where digital methods complement traditional techniques, rather than replace them entirely.
“Future research should continue to explore the limitations of these digital tools, ensuring that geological fieldwork remains both accurate and effective.”
Tech vs tradition
Geologists embrace change, and value the availability of versatile tech tools for mapping and data collection, says Dr Mahed.
“With features like GPS, cameras, gyroscopes and accelerometers, smartphones can now perform many of the functions traditionally reserved for specialised devices such as geological compasses.”
Technology has expanded our world view, he explains, with advances such as Sputnik 1 orbiting the Earth, and evolving into almost 1000 satellites in orbit for various aspects of earth observation.
“In recent years, we find the use of the Internet of Things, as well as Fibre, helps us to improve the scale and resolution of our data … and even looks at integrating AI and Machine Learning.
“However, despite the increasing utility of smartphones, the geological compass remains a reliable an essential tool for geologists in fieldwork mapping.”