Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how the PFAS (Public Space Assessment Framework) mobile application (“App,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and shares information when you use the App.

PFAS is a field survey tool used by authorized assessors to evaluate public spaces (such as parks and related facilities) on parameters including accessibility, inclusivity, amenities, and activity. Survey results may be reviewed in a companion admin dashboard.

By installing or using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

Depending on how you use the App, we may collect:

Assessor information

Information you provide about yourself when conducting an assessment, which may include name, gender, age, address, occupation, phone number, email address, and the name of the public space being assessed.

Survey and assessment data

Responses you submit to assessment questions (ratings, emoji-based scores, and free-text answers), assessment role (for example Part A core or Part B adolescent), completion status, typology of the space, and related scoring summaries.

Location and place context

City, park or public-space identifiers and names, and related place details needed to associate a survey with the correct site. Park records may include map coordinates maintained in our databases for listing and filtering purposes.

Device identifiers

A stable per-install device identifier used to associate submissions with a device and to support filtering and progress tracking in the dashboard.

Technical and usage data

Information such as submission timestamps, source platform, and other operational metadata required to store and display surveys reliably.

We do not knowingly sell personal information. The App is intended for authorized assessment use, not for general consumer advertising profiles.

We use the information we collect to:

• Record, store, and sync public-space assessments
• Calculate scores and progress (including daily completion rules for Part A and Part B assessments)
• Display results to authorized administrators in the PFAS survey dashboard
• Filter surveys by city, park, assessor, or device
• Maintain app reliability, security, and support
• Improve assessment workflows and related tools

We may share information with:

• Authorized project administrators who use the invite-only dashboard to review surveys for cities and parks they manage
• Service providers that host and process data on our behalf—primarily Google Firebase (including Authentication, Cloud Firestore, and related Google Cloud services)—under their respective terms and privacy policies
• Legal or safety requirements when disclosure is required by law, regulation, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or integrity of users, the App, or others

We do not sell personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

Survey and account-related data are stored using Google Firebase / Google Cloud infrastructure. We apply reasonable administrative and technical measures appropriate to the nature of the data, including restricted dashboard access (invite-only email authentication).

No method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain assessment and related account data for as long as needed to operate the App and dashboard, fulfill project reporting purposes, resolve disputes, and meet legal or operational requirements. When data is no longer needed, we take steps to delete or de-identify it where practicable.

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of personal information
• Ask questions about how your data is processed

To make a request, contact us using the details in the Contact section below. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests. Dashboard users may also request removal of their invite access through a project administrator.

The App supports Part B assessments related to adolescent experiences of public spaces. It is intended for use by authorized assessors under a project or institutional program.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 for commercial purposes unrelated to authorized assessments. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child in a manner inconsistent with applicable law, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete such information.

Where local law requires parental or guardian consent for younger users, organizations deploying the App are responsible for obtaining any required consents before use.

The Android App may request device permissions necessary for its features (for example network access to sync surveys). Permissions are requested only as needed for core assessment functionality. You can manage permissions in your device settings; some features may not work if required permissions are denied.

The App and related services rely on third-party platforms, including Google Firebase and Google Play. Those services process data according to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review:

• Firebase Privacy and Security
• Google Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page will change when we do. Continued use of the App after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy where permitted by law. For material changes, we may provide additional notice in the App or on this page.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise privacy-related rights, contact the developer using the support or contact email listed on the Google Play Store listing for the PFAS app.

You may also reach the project administrator who invited you to use the App or dashboard.