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In the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, people were worried for their safety. Safecast answered that call and went on to the largest open radiation database in the world. 10 years later our science project continues, with Ruby at its heart. Our radiation measurements span the globe and are freely available for anyone to use. And now with projects like Airnote we’re using that expertise to tackle new environmental challenges such as the California wildfires. RubyKaigi Takeout 2021: https://rubykaigi.org/2021-takeout/presentations/matschaffer.html
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In this presentation at RubyKaigi Takeout 2021, Matt Schaffer discusses '10 years of Ruby-powered citizen science' through the lens of Safecast, an organization established in response to the Fukushima disaster. Safecast has evolved into the largest open radiation database globally, utilizing technology and community involvement to disseminate critical environmental data. The talk covers the progression of data collection methods from simple Geiger counters to sophisticated IoT devices, highlighting the significant role that Ruby plays in managing the data processing pipeline. Key Points Discussed: - **Overview of Safecast**: Founded after the 2011 Fukushima disaster to provide much-needed radiation safety data when public information was scarce. - **Growth of Data Collection**: Safecast began with a Geiger counter taped to a truck, evolving into advanced devices that collect data globally, amassing 196 million data points. - **Current Technologies**: Highlights various devices including Nano units, Pointcast, Solarcast, and the newly developed Air Node for measuring air quality. - **Ruby's Involvement**: Ruby powers the back-end infrastructure for data ingestion and processing, with applications such as Ingest and APIs built with Ruby on Rails, vital for handling the enormous dataset. - **Public Engagement**: Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a telethon and public workshops to educate the community about the importance of environmental data. - **Future Opportunities**: Encourages developers, especially within the Ruby community, to get involved with Safecast, offering various ways to contribute, especially in upgrading systems and improving code quality. In conclusion, Schaffer appeals to the audience to engage with Safecast, emphasizing the importance of citizen science in addressing environmental challenges. By harnessing innovative technology and a passionate community, Safecast aims to make environmental data universally available, promoting public safety and awareness.
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