Croc Tales: Education and Adventure

Team Name

Vasilkoff GovHack Fellowship

Team Members

Project Description

Croc Tales: Education and Adventure is an interactive tourism and education initiative aimed at promoting public safety and increasing engagement with the Northern Territory’s (NT) rich wildlife and cultural heritage. Inspired by the success of Wrocław’s gnome statues, this project features crocodile statues scattered across NT cities, integrated with an interactive mobile-friendly web app. The app encourages users to explore NT (attractions and local services), learn about Crocwise safety measures, unlock fun rewards as they discover each statue, and help users frequently asked questions answered.

This project offers a fun, educational, and safety-focused experience while promoting the Northern Territory's unique cultural and wildlife heritage. The blend of gamified exploration, Crocwise education, and social media engagement will make it an unforgettable adventure for both tourists and locals.

These crocodile statues will not only attract tourists but also serve an educational purpose, blending Crocwise safety lessons with engaging and culturally significant stories. Each statue can be accompanied by a QR code that, when scanned, provides more detailed stories, fun facts, and additional Crocwise tips.

The app is designed with inclusivity in mind: Multiple languages supported for users with language barriers; text-to-speech for visually impaired users, visual aids, and simplified navigation; for those with mobility challenges, location-based services and remote access allow users to virtually explore attractions before visiting.

Data Story

Croc Tales: Education and Adventure is an interactive platform that combines tourism, wildlife education, and public safety, focusing on the Northern Territory’s iconic crocodiles. The app uses real-time data and open datasets to provide users with an immersive experience that’s both fun and educational. By exploring crocodile statues scattered across NT cities, users engage with Crocwise safety messages, unlocking stories about local culture and nature.

Key Data Sources

1. NT Crocodile Capture Zones and Daily Count

   • This dataset provides real-time data on crocodile capture zones across the Northern Territory. It includes daily counts of crocodile captures and provides insights into the most active zones.
   • Integration: The app integrates this data into an interactive map, showing users real-time information about crocodile activity in nearby zones. It also triggers Crocwise safety alerts for users in high-risk areas, ensuring tourists stay informed and take precautions.

2. Crocodile Monitoring Survey

   • This survey offers data on crocodile populations across different regions, showing trends in crocodile movements and densities.
   • Integration: This information is presented in the app when users visit statues near high-density crocodile areas, emphasizing the importance of following Crocwise guidelines.

3. Territory Stories

   • A rich archive of local NT stories, history, and culture, providing context and educational value to the user experience.
   • Integration: When users scan QR codes on crocodile statues, they unlock location-based stories from Territory Stories, allowing them to learn about the region’s cultural and historical significance.

4. Northern Territory Tourism Data

   • This dataset offers up-to-date information on tourism activities, attractions, and popular destinations in NT.
   • Integration: The app uses this data to recommend nearby tourist attractions based on the user’s location and encourages further exploration beyond the crocodile statues.

5. NT Parks and Reserves - NTG Open Data Portal

   • This dataset contains detailed maps and information about parks, reserves, and public amenities in the Northern Territory. It helps tourists discover natural recreational areas and services within the NT.

• Integration: The app integrates this data into its map feature, suggesting nearby parks and services to users based on their location. This encourages visitors to explore NT’s natural beauty and take advantage of local amenities, connecting them with nature and community resources.

1. Latest Visitor Data
   • This dataset tracks visitor movement and trends in real-time, giving insights into popular tourist spots and the flow of visitors across various locations in the Northern Territory.

• Integration: The app uses this data to optimize the placement of crocodile statues in high-traffic areas. Additionally, the app tailors user experiences by pushing relevant content or alerts when users visit these busy locations, improving engagement with Crocwise messages and local attractions.

How the Data Comes Together

Crocwise Education & Public Safety

The app relies heavily on real-time data from Crocodile Capture Zones and Monitoring Surveys to provide users with crucial safety tips. When a user explores a region known for active crocodile presence, they receive immediate safety alerts via the app. For example, if the Daly River shows recent high levels of crocodile activity, the app will display a caution message advising users to avoid water activities in that area.

Adventure and Cultural Immersion

Users are encouraged to engage with the Croc Tales journey by scanning crocodile statues that are strategically placed in areas of cultural and environmental significance. Once a statue is scanned, the app pulls Territory Stories data to share the history of that location. For example, scanning a statue at Mindil Beach might reveal the cultural importance of the site to local indigenous communities and past interactions with wildlife.