Hi all I received a message from another iNat user informing me that a large proportion of my >20,000 observations are useless because they lack “Location Accuracy” data. I mostly use an interchangeable lens camera to record images (DSLR and mirrorless cameras). I only infrequently use the camera …

It should contain the area you think it was in, so, if it a tree, make circle big enough to contain that tree on the map. Depending on how good your GPS in it can be a couple metres or 10, just add it the way all possible locations of where the organism was at that moment were in the circle.

[image] stephen220: “Too large an accuracy, or missing accuracy, means that the data are not incorporated into checklists for the smaller nature reserves and places, and cannot be used for conservation planning and red listing purposes. the “missing accuracy” part of this quote is wrong at be…

If you can add a reasonable accuracy estimate when you upload new observations, that’s probably good, but as a professional botanist, I’m used to dealing with herbarium collections that say things like “Campbell County. A couple of miles S of Alexandria along Highway 27”. Animals move, so I don’t se…

I don’t have GPS so my own obs are pinned to the satellite view of map. Not a scientist and I defer to answers you have received here. Some obs are set in such a huge circle they cover half of Africa and a swathe of Atlantic Ocean - those are clearly not SO useful.

There must be a valid reason iNat has the option to set the accuracy. If it is a redundant field, then should the argument not be to request that it be removed from the system? As @DianaStuder says [image] DianaStuder: someone trying to use your obs as data for research And as for saying …

[image] pisum: capturing good lat / long coordinates is far, far more important I don’t know what you mean by “good”. Isn’t location accuracy a measure of “goodness”?

Thanks for the input - I really appreciate it. Since this morning, I’ve noticed this same user has sent the same message to others over the years. Looks like you got one too! It’s even prompted other Forum discussions. I didn’t take it as abusive. But, as noted in comments of others above, it is mis…

[image] stephen220: large proportion of my >20,000 observations are useless This is literally impossible, so long as you enjoy using the site and are not breaking any rules. I really don’t even believe there is a “useless” observation, unless somebody is using the site solely to break the rul…

I’m pretty sure the vast majority of my iNat observations have no location accuracy/precision recorded because I use the sync-with-track method you use, @stephen220 . So I could either enter what I think is a correct accuracy value (but don’t know for sure), or just keep my locations without accuracy…

Missing Location Accuracy data?

General

stephen220 January 6, 2023, 8:48pm 19

Thanks so much - this is very helpful and reasonable!

1 Like

Topic		Replies	Views
Location Accuracy too easily bypassed? General	41	3663	February 13, 2021
Make users more aware of the accuracy field when uploading observations through the web interface Feature Requests	32	3354	September 15, 2022
The importance of location precision General	48	2979	March 3, 2022
Having an accuracy radius on your location can be important to some data users General	103	2757	December 5, 2024
Improving Location Accuracy on observations General android-app , ios-classic-app	120	15900	December 16, 2021

Missing Location Accuracy data?

Related topics