LOESS vs EchoSoil

LOESS app is made by the LOESS project (Literacy Boost through an Operational Educational Ecosystem of Societal Actors on Soil Health), a European initiative aimed at enhancing soil literacy across diverse communities. LOESS emphasizes that over 60% of EU soils are currently unhealthy, underscoring the urgent need for public awareness and education. By aligning with LOESS’s mission, this app seeks to bridge the knowledge gap, making soil science accessible and engaging for all users. We designed LOESS to educate users on the critical role of soil in sustaining life and maintaining environmental balance. This engaging app offers interactive features that delve into how healthy soils are foundational to our food systems, water purification, and biodiversity support. To enhance interactivity, LOESS includes an AR feature that allows users to add virtual insects to their AR scene, bringing the hidden world of soil biodiversity to life. Additionally, users can test their knowledge with an interactive quiz and enjoy two fun minigames designed to reinforce key soil-related concepts in an engaging way. Join us in this educational journey to uncover the unseen world beneath our feet and its profound impact on our planet’s health.

EchoSoil is the official mobile app of the ECHO project, a citizen science initiative co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. This app empowers individuals, communities, and researchers to monitor and protect soil health across Europe. EchoSoil enables users to: Collect and share soil data from their surroundings Upload photos and observations to the ECHOREPO open-access repository Learn about soil biodiversity and restoration Participate in a Europe-wide effort to promote soil stewardship The app is fully free to use and designed for educational, scientific, and environmental engagement purposes. All collected data contributes to a collaborative EU-wide initiative aimed at restoring and protecting soil ecosystems. Visit https://echosoil.eu for more information about the project and its impact.