SharkSmart Pro

SharkSmart PRO is a field mobility solution developed for the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and their Shark Management Program. It’s used by NSW-DPIRD and authorised helicopter spotters, drone operators, SMART Drumline contractors, shark meshing contractors, trauma kit teams, Surf Clubs, Surf Life Saving NSW, and SharkSmart Program staff to create and distribute shark alerts across NSW.

The application serves as an in-field tool that enables rapid and accurate data input and updating of shark activity, shark incidents, and other shark safety related information. It’s a critical component of the NSW government’s comprehensive Shark Management Program, which is the largest and most comprehensive program of its kind in the world.

Before SharkSmart PRO, shark surveillance personnel and other field operators had no standardised way to quickly report shark sightings and incidents. This led to inconsistent data collection, delays in communicating critical information, and potential errors in reporting.

Helicopter spotters, drone operators, and SMART Drumline contractors all had different methods for recording and communicating shark activity. This fragmented approach made it difficult to consolidate information and issue timely alerts to the public.

Additionally, personnel often worked in challenging environments—such as helicopter spotters leaning out of aircraft with doors removed—making it essential to have an interface that could be operated with minimal effort while maintaining high accuracy.

Our approach to solving these challenges focused on creating a user-friendly, efficient, and robust field tool that would work reliably in diverse and challenging environments. We identified several key requirements:

• User Interface Excellence – The app needed to be usable one-handed while users were in extreme conditions like leaning from helicopters or operating drones.

• Standardised Reporting – Each shark sighting type needed specific, standardised reporting templates to ensure consistent data quality across different operator roles and incident types.

• Location Intelligence – The solution needed to leverage location awareness to automatically populate relevant information and reduce manual entry, speeding up the reporting process.

• Role-Based Access – With diverse users across multiple organisations, the app required strict role-based access controls to ensure users could only perform actions appropriate to their role and training.

Our solution was to create a comprehensive yet straightforward field mobility tool that connects directly to the centralised SharkSmart platform. This ensures that all shark safety information is collected, standardised, and distributed efficiently to both authorities and the public.

The design of SharkSmart PRO prioritised simplicity and efficiency in high-pressure situations. The original version was specifically designed for helicopter spotters who needed to use it with one hand while taking photos with the other, often in challenging conditions.

Key design features include:

• Templated report forms

• Minimal input requirements (large touch targets and autotext functionality)

• Location intelligence (auto-populates nearest beach name, quick-access lists)

• Visual confirmation to reduce user error

The interface was subjected to extensive usability testing with actual field personnel to ensure it could be used effectively in real-world conditions.

Developing SharkSmart PRO required addressing several technical challenges:

• Offline Functionality – Store reports locally and sync when connectivity is restored.

• Integration with Multiple Systems – Connect seamlessly with SharkSmart platform, tagged shark listening stations, and the public SharkSmart app.

Key technical features:

• Secure user/role-based access control

• Optimised GPS for efficiency

• Autotext and intelligent fields to reduce typing

• Real-time data synchronisation when online

• Photo compression and upload

The application was built on the Mobiconnect platform, enabling rapid deployment and updates as the program evolved.

SharkSmart PRO has transformed how shark sightings and incidents are reported and managed across NSW waters. The application is now used by multiple stakeholder groups:

• DPIRD Fisheries Staff – Management and marine scientists

• Aerial Surveillance – Helicopter spotters and drone operators

• SMART Drumline Operators – Contractors report catches and releases

• Shark Meshing Teams – Report on deployment and maintenance

• Surf Life Saving NSW – Drone operators and State Operations Center staff

• Surfing NSW – Surf clubs, drone operators, trauma kit teams

• Reduced reporting time from minutes to seconds
• Increased data accuracy and consistency
• Improved public safety through faster alerts
• Better incident management and coordination
• Enhanced data collection for research

The SharkSmart program is part of the NSW government Shark Management Program. To learn more about the public SharkSmart app for beach users:

• Download on the App Store

• Get it on Google Play

• NSW Sharksmart Website
• NSW Shark Management Program
• SharkSmart Public App
• The SharkSmart Ecosystem