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In this contribution main concepts, tools and methods that distinguish citizen science are discussed in order to build a theoretical framework applicable to empirical cases study. The term citizen science refers to a set of methodological approaches for the engagement of volunteered participants in scientific research activities mainly related to environmental monitoring and assessment and spatial planning. The distinctive character of citizen science is transdisciplinarity. This concept indicates the integration of different scientific backgrounds and methods for science-driven solution-oriented applications to solve a specific problem that requires support and engagement of a wide range of potential non expert users and actors.The theoretical insights deriving from the review are tested at an empirical level on a pilot case study for estimating water levels in small basins, where the use of traditional monitoring tools is a real challenge due to the unstable morphological conditions of the riverbeds and the difficult-to-access environments of ephemeral and intermittent streams. In order to overcome such practical limitations, recently a technique based on image analysis was introduced, based on a white pole and its pictures taken by a phototrap (i.e. named stage-cam sensor). To calibrate such tool, the contribution of non-expert volunteers is fundamental. Indeed, they are recruited to perform a visual analysis of a continuous series of images to create a set of observations to use as benchmark for the image-analysis algorithm calibration. The study is based on the pilot case of the secondary basin of Montecalvello, located in the municipality of Graffignano (Viterbo Province), about 100 km north of Rome. The volunteers have been recruited by the student community of the University of Tuscia. Preliminary results presented here show the significant opportunities as well as the challenges of citizen engagement for water monitoring in remote areas. The presented transdisciplinary framework is also discussed, as linked to the presented preliminary results, underlying the multiple benefits of general public volunteering in similar research projects, paving the way for increased awareness, science literacy, engagement and distributed participation for environmental sustainability and safety.

This work intends to lay the foundations for a theoretical framework of citizen science combining social and organizational implications with the support of information technologies. The proposed theoretical framework moves towards a shared and common research process between experts and citizens to deal with environmental and social challenges. The role and capacity of online communities is explored and their engagement capacity by means of web-based digital platforms supporting crowdsourcing activities. In this contribution, authors highlight the most common practices, methods and issues of citizen science approaches adopted from multidisciplinary application fields to obtain insights for designing a new participative approach for organizational studies. To reach this goal, authors illustrate the results of a systematic meta-review analysis, consisting of an accurate selection and revision of journal review articles in order to highlight concepts, methods, research design approaches and tools adopted in citizen science approaches.

Water and environmental monitoring, observation and decision support systems (DSS) are being transformed by a wealth of open and big data that are increasingly available, accurate and timely. Consolidated technologies of earth observation, remote sensing, geospatial modelling and visualization systems are stimulating earth, hydrological and environmental sciences that are reacting not only with increasing scientific production, but with novel solutions-oriented methods, tools and algorithms. Procedures, methods and tools are more and more available for analysis, interpretation and mapping of river and basin coastal landscape features and hydro-environmental dynamics. Citizen science are further empowering the capabilities of DSS by gathering and sharing data on the human behaviour component to better understand the nature-human-urban interplay. Citizens, empowered by mobile devices, act as data and information producers, receivers and transmitters supporting the assessment of the effects of human-derived observations, feedbacks and actions sensing. Emerging hardware and software technologies (e.g. machine learning, artificial intelligence, IoT, etc.) are creating amazing opportunities for these DSS linked to the development of the human-machine interface and its use for promoting practical environmental and social actions to manage and mitigate natural hazard and climatic risks. The National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA) by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) is supporting and implementing a wide and diverse range of research, applied research, learning and communication activities, both at the national and international level, in collaborating with leading academic, professional and international organizations, for integrating citizen science, open data and big data into next generation water and environmental decision support systems. This contribution, while depicting the overall SINA framework (Italian Environmental Information System) and ongoing and planned activities by ISPRA SNPA and SINA, presents recent outcomes of research initiatives developed within the Water JPI, UNEP INFORAC, National Plan for Climate Adaptation (PNACC), Marine pollution, Biodiversity, the Water, Food and Energy Nexus among others. Insights from joint research efforts and working groups are presented and shared while pursuing further synergies and stimulate the discussion on this crucial topic for national and international agencies, like ISPRA, that seek to transfer research data, models and tools into institutional and operational activities.