[ECO]eButterfly App Connects Citizen Science with AI

[Eco 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ai-powered eButterfly app enables citizen science and butterfly research.

A new mobile application launched today is set to change the landscape of butterfly observation and identification worldwide. The

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, a collaborative project between Espace pour la vie, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), Mila – Québec Artificial Intelligence Institute, and the University of Ottawa, leverages advanced artificial intelligence to provide instant butterfly identification from smartphone photos.

This free app incorporates a sophisticated image recognition algorithm trained on millions of butterfly images. The AI can detect unique patterns and characteristics for each species, utilizing not only visual data but also the location and date of the observation to optimize its performance. This cutting-edge technology enables users to identify butterflies in the field instantly, bridging the gap between casual observers and scientific data collection.

The eButterfly app goes beyond mere identification, serving as a comprehensive platform for butterfly enthusiasts and researchers. Users can submit, organize, and share their observations, contributing to a rapidly growing global database of butterfly sightings. The app also fosters a community aspect, allowing users to receive support and verification from fellow enthusiasts.

What sets eButterfly apart from traditional butterfly identification methods and other citizen science apps is its combination of AI-powered identification, global reach, and comprehensive data collection. Unlike field guides or traditional identification keys, which require users to manually compare observed butterflies to descriptions or images, eButterfly provides instant, AI-assisted identification. This feature significantly lowers the barrier to entry for new enthusiasts and increases the accuracy of identifications.

Compared to other citizen science apps focused on wildlife or insects, eButterfly stands out for its specialized focus on butterflies and its integration of cutting-edge AI technology. While apps like iNaturalist offer broad species identification, eButterfly’s targeted approach allows for more detailed and accurate butterfly-specific data collection. The app’s use of location and date data in its identification algorithm is also a unique feature that enhances its accuracy and usefulness for scientific research.

The project’s roots trace back to Canada in 2012, but it has rapidly expanded its reach. In 2023, eButterfly went global, recording over 34,000 observations across 39 countries. All data collected through the app is uploaded to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), making it accessible to researchers worldwide. This open-access approach has already yielded significant scientific impact, with over 50 published articles based on eButterfly data and more than 250 citations of the eButterfly database.

Rodrigo Solis, coordinator of Data and Human Network at eButterfly, emphasizes the app’s potential for long-term

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. “This will be an essential and wonderful opportunity for people to get involved in science, appreciate nature, and interact with and enjoy biodiversity,” Solis stated. The app’s ability to engage citizens in scientific data collection on a global scale could prove invaluable for tracking butterfly populations over time.

Kent McFarland, director of the VCE’s Vermont Atlas of Life and eButterfly app, underscores the critical role butterflies play as environmental indicators. “Changes in butterfly diversity constitute warning signs of habitat degradation, climate change and other ecological threats,” McFarland explained. By aggregating observations from around the world, eButterfly provides a powerful tool for monitoring and potentially mitigating the rapid loss of insect biodiversity documented globally.

The eButterfly app’s versatility makes it useful for butterfly enthusiasts at all levels. Maxim Larrivée, director of the Insectarium and creator of eButterfly, describes it as “the tool for any butterfly enthusiast, from beginners looking for help with butterfly identification to experts who may want to plan their outings based on what species are active on any date at any particular location.”

The incorporation of artificial intelligence into the eButterfly app represents a significant leap forward in citizen science capabilities. David Rolnick, a core academic member of Mila – Québec

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Institute, expressed enthusiasm for the app’s potential to “democratize butterfly observation on a worldwide scale,” opening the door to a wealth of biodiversity data.

The eButterfly app project exemplifies the power of collaboration between scientific institutions, technology developers, and citizen scientists. By making butterfly identification accessible to anyone with a smartphone, the app has the potential to engage a wide audience in biodiversity conservation efforts. As climate change and habitat loss continue to threaten insect populations globally, tools like eButterfly may prove crucial in tracking and understanding these shifts in real-time.

The launch of the eButterfly app comes at a critical time for biodiversity conservation. With its user-friendly interface, AI-powered identification, and global reach, it represents a significant step forward in

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

research and public engagement in science. As the app continues to grow and evolve, it has the potential to revolutionize not only butterfly research but also the broader field of citizen science and biodiversity monitoring.

The post

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

appeared first on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up