Flora Incognita – Methods for Closing Data Gaps in Nationwide Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting Obligations
| Federal State | Nationwide |
|---|---|
| Duration | 01/08/2024 - 31/07/2026 |
| Funding Budget | € 1,698,163.27 |
| Funding Reference Number | 100684990, 100686082 |
| Grant recipients | Technische Universität Ilmenau (TUIL), Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC) |
| Participants | Technische Universität Ilmenau (TUIL), Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC) |
Project description
Flora Incognita is an app for automatic plant identification that appeals to a wide range of users and helps them explore and understand plant biodiversity in nature. The app uses artificial intelligence to analyse smartphone images and identify plant species and their locations. In doing so, it collects valuable data on species distribution across Germany.
Flora Incognita draws on a comprehensive database containing information on a wide variety of plant species. In addition to the plant name, users are provided with detailed information such as appearance, distribution, flowering period, and conservation status. Identified plants can be saved in a personal observation list and viewed on an interactive map.
Project structure
The project is accompanied by extensive public outreach and environmental education activities and is divided into the following work packages:
To ensure that the Flora Incognita app continues to be used by millions of people – privately, in schools, universities, environmental education centres, and professional contexts such as planning offices or nature conservation authorities – its continuous development and reliable provision must be secured.
As part of the project, existing Flora Incognita data will be analysed in terms of spatial, temporal, and taxonomic bias and compared with systematic mapping efforts. The aim is to develop robust analytical tools for opportunistic citizen science data, enabling comprehensive long-term trend analyses. In addition, current limitations of the data for biodiversity monitoring will be identified, and approaches developed to further adapt Flora Incognita to the requirements of long-term biodiversity monitoring.
Science communication and public outreach are crucial elements of citizen science projects like Flora Incognita. The public will be informed about the project's goals, methods, and findings, raising awareness of the importance of species diversity and monitoring. Targeted communication will encourage citizens to actively participate in the project.
Within the project, a sustainability concept will be developed in coordination with the federal states. The states will define their requirements, based on which the concept will be further specified with detailed tasks and deliverables. This process will take place in close coordination with the federal states and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).
Project benefits
Long-term Maintenance and further development of the App
This project will ensure the continuous development and reliable provision of the Flora Incognita app. By the end of the project, the application and its underlying technology will have reached a level of maturity that enables its long-term use in both biodiversity monitoring and environmental education. As a result, the app will contribute to the protection of biological diversity beyond the project’s duration.
Throughout the course of the project, data and quality assurance strategies will be developed and implemented in close coordination with various stakeholder groups. From an information technology perspective, the project offers an exciting opportunity to apply concepts developed and initially tested in computer science to challenges in biodiversity, thereby generating valuable insights at scale. At the same time, new methods will be developed that are novel within the field of computer science, with the aim of establishing a long-term, bidirectional exchange of knowledge – allowing ecology to benefit from computer science approaches and vice versa.
Innovative link between computer science and biodiversity research
As part of the project funded by the Monitoring Centre, the ongoing maintenance and further development of Flora Incognita will be ensured. The app will be adapted to evolving operating systems and growing user numbers. Additional functions will be implemented to expand the app’s potential. Furthermore, spatial and temporal analyses of the citizen science data will be carried out to further adapt Flora Incognita to the requirements of long-term biodiversity monitoring.
Contribution to education, science and public awareness
In addition, the project will contribute to raising awareness of biodiversity in society and, over time, strengthen public understanding of and support for species conservation. This may also help increase public acceptance of conservation measures.
Scientific outputs will be disseminated through conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. These publications will undergo rigorous review processes and will be incorporated into institutional performance assessments. Methods and findings will also be integrated into academic teaching. Moreover, the project will provide many students with opportunities to gain experience in the relevant fields through master’s theses, bachelor’s projects, and student assistant roles within a scientific environment.