Pl@ntNet is a citizen science project available as an app that helps you identify plants thanks to your pictures.
Pl@ntNet is a citizen science platform that uses AI to help people identify plants using their mobile phones. The app works as follows: the user takes a picture which is automatically compared to the thousands of images presents in Pl@ntnet’s botanical databases. A list of plants is then proposed for the user to compare with the plant he's trying to identify. Pl@ntNet is currently involved in 22 different projects: it helps parks and institutions creating databases of their plants, monitoring the presence of invasive plants, educating the public ecc. The app fosters the rising of microprojects proposed directly from the users.
Resources needed
Pl@ntNet is mainly supported by donations entirely invested in the maintenance, development and management. Agropolis Foundation initially provided financial support to Pl@ntNet and today coordinates the collection of donations to ensure its exploitation.
Evidence of success
More than 20 million downloads, 2.2 million accounts, 300k-500k users every day, 24 languages, more than 1.700000 images were collected.
Potential for learning or transfer
Pl@ntnet teaches how to run a successful collaborative project. Its user base is constantly growing and making the database grow. Moreover, Pl@ntnet facilitates the spontaneous rising of micro-project, allowing small realities to contribute to the process of educating the public. Other realities could learn how to implement public collaboration in their project.
Tags: Digitalisation, Environment, Science
