Bell, P, Shelley, W, Smith, R S, and Tomas, R. 2014. Reusable tools for smartphone apps: innovative activities in the European geological sector. British Geological Survey, OR/14/073.
One of the key questions we are asking in this survey is who is doing this app development within the geological surveys, what skills exists and how shareable are the app tools for the benefit of others? Interestingly, there is an equal split between geological surveys doing in-house development/creation capabilities within their development teams and surveys contracting out the work to specialist external app development contractors. The importance of collaborative working is clear, with 60% of all apps created being produced in partnership with other organisations. These partnerships include both geological and non-geological organisations (within and between countries), demonstrating that apps can be used to focus integrated, cross-cutting information delivery systems and multi-disciplinary solutions to environmental problems.
