I haven’t found exact answer, except this related topic regarding the date: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/select-a-date-range-when-creating-observations/11395 So considering this previous discussion I assume that it is allowed if day is not exact. Though it is not possible to save an observation…

https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/what+is+it Scientific data is a secondary, albeit important goal of the site.

Then marking all of them is needed, see, context matters a lot, I also know a user uploading dead insects not found in the region at all.

But I don’t think that “Scientific data is a secondary” for the “research grade” observations, as they being exported to GBIF, where scientific data is on the first place.

[image] aricafoix: Chile as location, the point is at the center and accuracy is like 3.000 km (1.900 mi) radius In similar cases (Thailand with 1000 km radius), I disagree with the accurateness of the location, and ask the observer to specify it more precisely.

GBIF is an independent organization who make their own decisions about what records they will and will not accept into their database. GBIF have obviously made the decision they consider such records as appropriate for their use.

But you shouldn’t, comment with tag is enough. Those large radiuses are like if placement was hidden, take it this way, nobody but user knows where it is.

I think it is rather clear that whole idea of “research grade” and “casual” categories for observations is about scientific data. “iN is not scientific project” means that they’re not deleting “casual” observations, but not that they don’t care about scientific data.

No, Research grade is a misleading term, it just means community reviewed observation, nothing to do with ready for research in fact.

I do this for the science. Officially the main goal is for people to connect with nature, with science secondary.

I don’t like that idea much, I wish they would stop saying it. If there was no scientific value to my observations I wouldn’t be here, that’s all my motivation! And maybe there isn’t any value to my observations, but I still like to pretend there is.

How accurate should be date and location for research grade?

General

Topic		Replies	Views
On observations with unusually low location accuracy General question	89	2192	June 8, 2025
Don't let an observation attain Research Grade if its location is very imprecise Feature Requests	196	10658	March 16, 2026
Having an accuracy radius on your location can be important to some data users General	103	3252	December 5, 2024
Deliberately posting false or inaccurate information General	64	4859	July 9, 2023
Huge "Accuracy" Circles General	43	1255	January 24, 2026

How accurate should be date and location for research grade?

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