Eyewitness Community Survey

What is Eyewitness Community Survey?

Eyewitness Community Survey is a citizen science tool that helps communities get healthier by collecting information from their local environment. We Engage 4 Health invites children from grade 5 and up and adults of all ages to participate. ECS observers walk the community, make observations, and answer survey questions on a smart phone or tablet to capture the data.

Important Features of ECS

  • ECS is a standardized tool that allows data from many observers in a community to be captured and later pooled together.
  • To allow data to be pooled, each ECS observer needs to follow the same process (protocol).
  • A community can customize some parts of the ECS question set to focus on issues of greatest concern.

Who Can Use the ECS Tool?

Any group or organization with an interest in the relationship between health and their local environment can request training to use the ECS tool. In some cases, instruments to collect air pollution measurements can be loaned to groups using the ECS tool as an added source of data. Just get in touch using the interest form, and a We Engage 4 Health team member will contact you!

How Does My Group Learn to Use the ECS Tool?

Training to use the ECS tool is provided through a series of three graphic-style stories. 

  • Exploring the Environment
  • Environment is Everywhere
  • Becoming an Expert Eyewitness

These stories are available to read as online flipbooks, as printable PDF files, and as videos with voices playing the characters. You can view the videos below.

Play Video
Play Video
Play Video

Interest Form

Provide us with contact information, and we will send you information about getting your group involved in participating as citizen scientists using the Eyewitness Community Survey tool!

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Meet Big Sam

Big Sam is a 40-something security guard at the high school Jazzy and Vito attend. Big Sam is worried about his health and recently found out his blood pressure is high. He covers up his worries with jokes. He lives in the apartment above Miss Georgia.

Meet Jazzy

Jazzy is a cheerful younger high school age girl. She is a cheerleader and does gymnastics. She enjoys spending time with older people and loves to bake with Miss Georgia. She has asthma and works hard to control it so she can enjoy her activities.

Meet Cardi

Cardi is a 30-something aerobics teacher at the community center who loves to help people get more fit and healthy but can be a bit too much “in your face” about it. She means well though!

Meet Vito

Vito is a plays-it-cool older high schooler who is sweet-natured at heart. He plays basketball at the community center and is friends with Jazzy. He loves pop and chips and can’t see why eating all he wants of them is a problem.

Meet Pops

Pops is a retired high school science teacher who loves to keep helping people learn about science and health. He likes to check out what everyone is doing or talking about and step in to give his opinion.

Meet Miss Georgia

Miss Georgia is a fun-loving lady in her 50’s who loves to sing, dance, and bake. She is always helping out at community events. She recently found out she has diabetes, and she is learning new ways to cook.