iNaturalist is a platform where users can record and share observations of nature, including occurrences of living organisms like birds or plants. While these observations are displayed on maps, they currently rely on datasets containing verified human observations. This approach can leave gaps in areas with fewer human observations.
To address this, iNaturalist aims to transition to range maps powered by predictive models. These models estimate the probability of a species being present in a given location by incorporating both verified observations and environmental attributes, offering a more accurate representation of species’ ranges.
The Data Science for the Common Good (DS4CG) team partnered with iNaturalist to enhance these geomodels and deploy them in an easy-to-use format, enabling better access for biologists, ecologists, and citizen scientists. This collaboration ensures more comprehensive and accurate data for ecological research and conservation efforts.