---
schema_type: "SoftwareApplication"
entity_type: "Mobile Application"
app_name: "DISCS - Drought Information"
developer_entity: "NASA"
bundle_id: "gov.nasa.msfc.discs.citizenscience"
app_store_id: "1287105143"
category: "Education"
primary_platform: "ios"
primary_monetization: "Free"
offline_capable: false
market_region: "US"
platforms: "iOS"
app_last_updated: "2017-11-22"
report_date: "2026-04-03"
report_version: "1.1"
total_reviews: 3
overall_rating: 2
confidence: "low"
confidence_score: 0.25
data_age_days: 0
intelligence_version: 2
total_followers: 0
nemesis: "CoCoRaHS Observer"
competitor_count: 15
tags: ["education", "free", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "agricultural", "professionals,", "researchers,"]
canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/discs-drought-information"
license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0"
---

# DISCS - Drought Information App Audit

> **TL;DR:** DISCS - Drought Information is a education app by NASA, rated 2/5 by 3 users, available on iOS.
>
> **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence.

> **Key Insight:** DISCS - Drought Information is a education app by NASA.

## Metadata & Market Performance
- **Publisher:** NASA
- **Category:** Education
- **Target Audience:** Agricultural professionals, researchers, and citizen scientists interested in monitoring and contributing to drought and hydrologic data.
- **Platforms:** iOS
- **Version Audited:** 1.1
- **Audit Date:** 2026-04-03
- **Signal Count:** 1 reviews analyzed
- **Confidence:** Low (0.25/1.0)
- **App Store ID (iOS):** 1287105143
- **Bundle ID:** gov.nasa.msfc.discs.citizenscience
- **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-04-03

## Strategic Synopsis
DISCS is a NASA-developed research tool designed to collect ground-level drought and agricultural data from citizen scientists to supplement satellite observations. It targets agricultural professionals and researchers, positioning itself as a scientific collaboration platform. While it offers unique data integration from NASA and NOAA, the app appears to be a legacy project with no updates since 2017 and very low user engagement.

## Feature Profile & User Intent
- **[Differentiator] Citizen Science Data Contribution:** Allows users to upload photos and report local crop conditions, health, and soil moisture to assist researchers.
  * *User Intent:* Users want to quickly find relevant content or features.
- **[Differentiator] Drought Contextualization:** Integrates user reports with U.S. Drought Monitor data, NOAA rainfall data, and NASA satellite imagery.
  * *User Intent:* Users expect intelligent, adaptive experiences that learn from their behavior.
- **[Standard] Community Observation:** Enables users to view their own reports alongside those submitted by other citizen scientists.
  * *User Intent:* Users want real-time communication within the app experience.
- **[Standard] Soil Moisture Monitoring:** Provides access to soil moisture data from ground sensors and NASA modeling approaches.
  * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features.

## Monetization Strategy
- **Model:** Free
- **Tiers:** Completely free to use with no mentioned in-app purchases or subscriptions.
- **Analysis:** The app is a non-profit research tool developed by NASA, focusing on data collection and public engagement rather than monetization.

## SWOT Analysis

| **Strengths** | **Weaknesses** |
| :--- | :--- |
| • Direct integration with NASA and NOAA data streams<br>• Unique fusion of ground-truth photos and satellite imagery<br>• High scientific credibility and institutional backing | • Product stagnation (no updates since 2017)<br>• Very low user rating (2.0 stars)<br>• Limited platform availability and low user engagement |

| **Opportunities** | **Threats** |
| :--- | :--- |
| • Modernize UI/UX to capture interest in climate change monitoring<br>• Implement gamification to increase citizen scientist participation<br>• Expand to Android to reach a broader global agricultural base | • User migration to more active platforms like CoCoRaHS<br>• Technical obsolescence due to lack of OS compatibility updates<br>• Commercial Ag-tech competitors offering superior user experiences |

## Competitive Landscape (AI-Analyzed)

> Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals.

### Nemesis (Closest Rival)
- **CoCoRaHS Observer** by Colorado State University: The primary citizen science platform for reporting precipitation and drought conditions used by the National Weather Service and NOAA.
- **ISeeChange** by ISeeChange: A direct competitor focused on crowdsourcing local climate impacts, including drought and heat, to inform researchers and city planners.
- **LandPKS** by LandPKS Team: Allows users to collect and share site-specific soil and vegetation data, directly mirroring the soil moisture and crop health features of DISCS.

### Contenders (Strong Competitors)
| App | Developer | Why They Compete |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| SoilWeb | UC Davis | Provides GPS-based access to soil survey data and characteristics, serving the same agricultural and research user base. |
| Agrio | Agrio | Uses satellite imagery and crowdsourced reports to monitor crop health and identify stress, competing on the agricultural monitoring front. |
| mPING | University of Oklahoma | A high-volume citizen science app for reporting weather conditions directly to NOAA researchers. |
| Canopeo | Oklahoma State University | A specialized tool for measuring green canopy cover to monitor crop growth and vegetation health. |
| Nature's Notebook | USA National Phenology Network | A citizen science app for tracking seasonal changes in plants and animals, overlapping with DISCS's vegetation monitoring goals. |

### Same Space (Related Apps)
- **[iNaturalist](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/inaturalist-classic)** by iNaturalist: The gold standard for environmental citizen science data collection and community observation.
- **Water Reporter** by The Commons: A community-driven platform for monitoring local water quality and hydrologic conditions.
- **OneSoil** by OneSoil: Provides satellite-based crop monitoring and soil moisture insights for agricultural professionals.
- **Climate FieldView** by The Climate Corporation: A professional-grade tool for monitoring field health and precipitation data.
- **FarmLogs** by FarmLogs: Focuses on rain tracking and soil maps to help farmers manage drought risk.

### New Kids on the Block (Emerging Competitors)
- **Pocket Rain Gauge** by AgReliant Genetics: A newer, streamlined tool for location-specific rainfall tracking and historical data comparison.
- **MyRainfall** by MyRainfall: A rising community-based tool for tracking and sharing local precipitation data.

## Bottom Line
DISCS - Drought Information is a divisive education app that is completely free.
With a 2/5 rating from 3 reviews, it receives mixed feedback.

**Best for:** Agricultural professionals, researchers, and citizen scientists interested in monitoring and contributing to drought and hydrologic data.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is DISCS - Drought Information free?**
A: Yes, DISCS - Drought Information is completely free to download and use.

**Q: What are DISCS - Drought Information's main features?**
A: Key features include Citizen Science Data Contribution, Drought Contextualization, Community Observation, Soil Moisture Monitoring.

**Q: Who is DISCS - Drought Information for?**
A: Agricultural professionals, researchers, and citizen scientists interested in monitoring and contributing to drought and hydrologic data.

**Q: Is DISCS - Drought Information available on iOS and Android?**
A: DISCS - Drought Information is available on iOS.

**Q: Is DISCS - Drought Information worth it in 2026?**
A: DISCS - Drought Information is a divisive education app that is completely free. With a 2/5 rating from 3 reviews, it receives mixed feedback. Best for: Agricultural professionals, researchers, and citizen scientists interested in monitoring and contributing to drought and hydrologic data..

**Q: What are the main competitors of DISCS - Drought Information?**
A: The main competitors of DISCS - Drought Information include CoCoRaHS Observer, ISeeChange, LandPKS, SoilWeb, Agrio, among others. CoCoRaHS Observer is the closest direct competitor — the primary citizen science platform for reporting precipitation and drought conditions used by the national weather service and noaa..

**Q: What are the best alternatives to DISCS - Drought Information?**
A: Top alternatives to DISCS - Drought Information include CoCoRaHS Observer, ISeeChange, LandPKS, SoilWeb. Each targets a similar audience in the education space.

## Key Metrics Summary

| Metric | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Overall Rating | 2/5 |
| Total Reviews | 3 |
| Confidence | Low |
| Pricing Model | Free |
| Platforms | iOS |
| Key Features | 4 analyzed |

## Competitor Comparison

| App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **DISCS - Drought Information** (this app) | 2/5 | N/A | NASA |
| [Elevate - Brain Training Games](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/elevate-brain-training-games) | 4.7/5 | Excited | The Mind Company |
| [Flashcards Deluxe](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flashcards-deluxe) | 4.5/5 | Thrilled | OrangeOrApple.com |
| [Flashcards maker - AI generate](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flashcards-maker-ai-generate) | 4.1/5 | Mixed | Teleprompter LLC |
| [Peak - Brain Training](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/peak-brain-training) | 4.7/5 | Mixed | Synaptic Labs |
| [Flash Cards Flashcards Maker](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flash-cards-flashcards-maker) | 4.0/5 | Mixed | Infinite Wave Media, LLC |

## Company Profile
- **Developer:** NASA

## Data Sources & Links
- **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/discs-drought-information/id1287105143?uo=4)
- **Sources:** App store metadata, User reviews.

## Related Intel Reports
- [*Elevate - Brain Training Games*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/elevate-brain-training-games) (The Mind Company) — 4.7/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment
- [*Flashcards Deluxe*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flashcards-deluxe) (OrangeOrApple.com) — 4.5/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment
- [*Flashcards maker - AI generate*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flashcards-maker-ai-generate) (Teleprompter LLC) — 4.1/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment
- [*Peak - Brain Training*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/peak-brain-training) (Synaptic Labs) — 4.7/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment
- [*Flash Cards Flashcards Maker*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/flash-cards-flashcards-maker) (Infinite Wave Media, LLC) — 4.0/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment
- [*AlgoApp - Flashcards*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/algoapp-flashcards) (AlgoApp Inc) — 4.6/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment
- [*PictureThis - Plant Identifier*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/picturethis-plant-identifier) (Glority Global Group Ltd.) — 4.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment
- [*Vibecode - Website Builder*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/vibecode-ai-app-builder) (Software Composer) — 3.3/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment
- [*Expedition White Shark*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/expedition-white-shark) (Marine Conservation Science Institute MCSI) — 2.7/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment
- [*The Human Body by Tinybop*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/com-tinybop-humanbody) (Tinybop Inc.) — 4.2/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment

## Methodology

This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 3-stage AI intelligence pipeline:

1. **Feature & Positioning Extraction** — Analyzes app metadata, developer website content, and version history to identify key features, target audience, and competitive positioning.
2. **Sentiment Analysis** — Processes user reviews (minimum 5 reviews required) to extract praise themes, complaint themes, and overall sentiment with evidence quotes.
3. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Combines stages 1 & 2 with App Store rankings to produce SWOT analysis, executive summary, and actionable insights.

- **Confidence Score:** 0.25/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality)
- **Reviews Analyzed:** 1
- **Data Sources:** user reviews, App Store metadata
- **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform
- **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence.
- **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh

---
© 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/education/discs-drought-information)
Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.