App for Dunbeg centre

SCOTTISH software company Planys Mobile is developing a web application to help the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) carry out surveys related to the use of and attitudes towards marine environments.

These surveys include collecting data from sea divers and anglers to guide the establishment of marine protected areas

They can also be employed to gauge public opinion on matters such as formation of new nature conservation facilities.

Planys Mobile co-founder Joe Henry said: ‘As a company we are keen to create strategic apps that are for societal benefit. This work for SAMS fits in with that objective; gathering better and faster data for SAMS will help manage and protect the marine environment.’

Dr Jasper Kenter, principal investigator at SAMS, said: ‘An important aspect of SAMS’ research is to understand different views about how we manage the coastal and marine environment.

‘EU funding has allowed us to contract Planys to develop software to help manage complex and social research questions, such as which particular places are important to people, and why.

‘This will help us in understanding how developments such as wind farms or aquaculture can be managed in a way that respects the coastal environment and those using it.’