Assateague Wild Horse ID App
Tax deductible
The Assateague Wild Horse Identification App will provide visitors to Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park the opportunity to correctly identify individual horses among the Maryland herd by taking a photograph on their smartphone. This application will utilize visual recognition software and a short series of questions when necessary to provide specific information about the horses the public are encountering during their visit. The app will also be used to serve as a new way to reach visitors in the age of technology and will include horse viewing safety and ethics as well as information about the National Seashore’s wild horse management plan.
The Wild Assateague Horses are a major part of what makes Assateague “Assateague”. By creating this app we aim to help everyone discover and understand more about why and how the horses are adapted to survive and thrive in the island. In addition, the app will foster connections among the public and create a network of people communicating about the horses. The app will link to the Assateague Island Alliance website where users can upload their photos with a GPS Geo-tag to report sighting and leave a comment. Users will have access to a detailed description of the horse and will have the opportunity to join the Foster Horse Program which is a symbolic adoption outreach effort designed to inform the public of the Park’s management strategy and raise funds to support it. This will also serve as a resource for the public to locate the horses when visiting Assateague.
AIA has received support from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council for the initial development phase which includes creating the visual recognition software from the images of 89 horses and creating the app. We need YOUR help for phase two of the project: implementation and website support development. We need the funds by March 1, 2017 in order to launch the app for visitor use in the Spring of 2017!
In order to use the app visitors will download it for free, take photo of a horse and run it through the app to identify horse. In cases of unmarked horses or if the image quality is not sufficient, the app will provide questions and prompt the user to respond with more information until it can positively identify the horse. For example: Does the mane fall to the left or right? Does the horse have a white marking on the face? Does the horse have white marks on the feet or hooves? Or it will prompt the user to take another photo.
This app is a project iof Assateague Island Alliance, Inc. (AIA), the non profit Friends Group organization supporting Assateague Island National Seashore. AIA supports the educational, interpretive, recreational, and scientific programs for the National Seashore. All funds raised by AIA are for the direct benefit of Assateague Island National Seashore.
The Assateague Wild Horse ID App has been financed in part by the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Area Council (LESHC), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and a certified Maryland Heritage Area through Maryland Heritage Area Authority, whose purpose is to preserve, protect and promote the historical. cultural and natural heritage of Maryland's Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
The Wild Assateague Horses are a major part of what makes Assateague “Assateague”. By creating this app we aim to help everyone discover and understand more about why and how the horses are adapted to survive and thrive in the island. In addition, the app will foster connections among the public and create a network of people communicating about the horses. The app will link to the Assateague Island Alliance website where users can upload their photos with a GPS Geo-tag to report sighting and leave a comment. Users will have access to a detailed description of the horse and will have the opportunity to join the Foster Horse Program which is a symbolic adoption outreach effort designed to inform the public of the Park’s management strategy and raise funds to support it. This will also serve as a resource for the public to locate the horses when visiting Assateague.
AIA has received support from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council for the initial development phase which includes creating the visual recognition software from the images of 89 horses and creating the app. We need YOUR help for phase two of the project: implementation and website support development. We need the funds by March 1, 2017 in order to launch the app for visitor use in the Spring of 2017!
In order to use the app visitors will download it for free, take photo of a horse and run it through the app to identify horse. In cases of unmarked horses or if the image quality is not sufficient, the app will provide questions and prompt the user to respond with more information until it can positively identify the horse. For example: Does the mane fall to the left or right? Does the horse have a white marking on the face? Does the horse have white marks on the feet or hooves? Or it will prompt the user to take another photo.
This app is a project iof Assateague Island Alliance, Inc. (AIA), the non profit Friends Group organization supporting Assateague Island National Seashore. AIA supports the educational, interpretive, recreational, and scientific programs for the National Seashore. All funds raised by AIA are for the direct benefit of Assateague Island National Seashore.
The Assateague Wild Horse ID App has been financed in part by the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Area Council (LESHC), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and a certified Maryland Heritage Area through Maryland Heritage Area Authority, whose purpose is to preserve, protect and promote the historical. cultural and natural heritage of Maryland's Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
Organizer
Assateague Island Alliance
Organizer
Berlin, MD
Assateague Island Alliance
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
