Timmons Group and Texas A&M Forest Service Team Up to Create New App
(PRWEB) February 24, 2014 -- Texas A&M Forest Service contracted with Timmons Group for the development of Tree Trails, a new, educational mobile and desktop application designed to collect information about trees throughout the State of Texas.
The application was created to allow teachers, youth organization leaders, and the general public to create a custom tree trail and utilize the corresponding educational curriculum to learn about these trees, and share this information with others. This app provides an instructional approach while integrating language arts, math, science, social studies and technology with outdoor learning activities to create real and virtual arboretums at schools and other public spaces.
The web application is available through the Texas Forest Info Portal, which can be found here. It was built as its own site using HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript. This component was designed for desktop and laptop access to view statistics about the trees and trails collected, view trees and trails on a map, and add new trails or trees. Additionally, ten learning modules were created and are accessible through the web component.
The mobile component is a native iOS application for iPhone and iPad, allowing the classroom to move into the field for a more hands-on experience. Users can access the application from mobile devices sharing the same functional ability as the desktop, but the workflow was designed for the mobile experience. Features include the ability to navigate through maps of trails and trees, toggle between aerial and street views as well as GPS capabilities.
About Timmons Group
Timmons Group is a leading provider of geospatial information architecture and engineering services focusing on developing intuitive, enterprise geospatial web applications, highly-usable, cross-device mobile applications, and integrated, geospatially-enabled enterprise solutions. Timmons Group develops solutions across multiple platforms, including JavaScript, HTML5, and native mobile operating systems. Timmons Group maintains a strong business partner relationship with Esri, and has been a recipient of both the Esri Business Partner of the Year award and the Esri Foundation Partner of the Year award. For more information about Timmons Group’s geospatial products and services, contact Lowell Ballard at lowell(dot)ballard(at)timmons(dot)com or visit http://www.timmonsgis.com.
About Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) provides focused, high priority innovation and expertise through statewide leadership to assure Texas’ trees, forests and related natural resources are protected and sustained. Through conservation education, TFS seeks to educate Texans so that present and future generations may benefit and learn about the wise use and sustainability of our natural resources.
More About Tree Trails
Tree Trails is designed to enhance the learning experience of students throughout the State of Texas. It serves schools and nature centers with a high-tech online, easy-to-use, educationally sound project that gets kids outside and active in the environment while learning about trees and the benefits they provide. The 10-model curriculum was developed by Texas A&M Forest Service in cooperation with Texas Urban Forestry Council. Funding was provided by a grant from the USDA Forest Service. For more information about Tree Trails, contact Gretchen Riley at griley(at)tfs(dot)tamu(dot)edu.
Tim Klabunde, Timmons Group, http://www.timmons.com, +1 (804) 200-6500, [email protected]
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