Amador County – Two new “apps” for iPhone or Android mobile devices are providing citizens with a more efficient way to report conditions needing attention in their area.

Both applications were created in response to the popularity of applications for mobile devices, which are easy to download and can help users perform specific tasks or follow interests.

The City of Jackson recently worked with App-Order.com to create an application that will allow residents or visitors to use their “mobile devices to report conditions needing city attention such as potholes, water leaks, graffiti and other neighborhood enhancement items,” according to the city’s website. Users can snap a photo of the problem, add a description and then send it to the city. The application is called “myJackson” and can be found either in the iTunes store for the iPhone or the Android store for phones based on this software platform.

Another application called “Creek Watch” was also released recently. It was developed by the State Water Resources Council as a way for concerned citizens to monitor local watersheds by snapping a photo and providing information. It was developed because in many regions, creeks are too numerous to be effectively monitored by local water boards. “Whenever you pass by a waterway, spend a few seconds using the ‘Creek Watch’ application to snap a picture and report how much water and trash you see,” says IBM, the applications’ creator.

Water officials have billed the technology as “water quality wherever they go.” The “app” asks users to provide a picture along with data including the amount of water, flow rates and the amount of trash.

According to Christine Robson of IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, “ ‘Creek Watch’ lets the average citizen contribute to the health of their water supply - without PhDs, chemistry kits, and a lot of time.”

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.