Rock art CARE: A cross-platform mobile application for crowdsourcing heritage conservation data for the safeguarding of open-air rock art

PurposeCrowdsourcing heritage information has enormous potential to help gather data needed to make decisions over the deployment of resources and heritage conservation funding. Taking advantage of the rapid proliferation of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, packed with sensors to record data about the real world, and the global growth of mobile app stores, reaching potential crowdsourcing volunteers is easier than ever before. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a mobile application known as Rock Art CARE (condition assessment risk evaluation) to crowdsource heritage conservation data, in the context of rock art conservation.Design/methodology/approachAs with conservation efforts of any kind, accurate information is vital to make informed triage decisions over where to route effort, resources and funding. The Rock Art CARE application is a cross-platform mobile application for crowdsourcing information about rock art carvings, where the collated data are stored in a central location for access by different stakeholders.FindingsThe paper goes on to detail the web portal with its application programming interface and database schema, and how the collected data are passed on to policy and decision makers to aid in the identification and conservation of the carvings most at risk.Originality/valueThe paper presents a method of harnessing common technology to forge a link between the mobile devices of the general public and key stakeholders responsible for the preservation of the UK’s rock art.