As an enthusiastic user/observer/identifier on inaturalist.org, the more time I spend exploring this vast community resource, the more rewarding it becomes.
I recently built this lite, mobile-aimed (but desktop-capable) map-based explorer that quickly shows location/radius-based highlights via the amazing Inat API, using Angular and OpenLayers:
This is an alternative UI/UX from the current official app(s), which I find more enjoyable for quickly discovering new cool things on iNaturalist.
I have already noticed dozens of amazing new things via this interface, resulting in scores of âfavesâ to a bunch of things I havenât noticed before.
As a scientist, âcitizen naturalistâ and part-time software/web developer myself, the iNat experience and implementation has been incredibly interesting and enjoyable. This is one small way I can âgive backâ (and see more cool stuff )
Note there will be lots of bugs in this webapp, and it currently initializes over Hawaii because I designed it in part to emphasize marine species and locations popular to divers. It collects no data from users
The API has limits so you need to be patient about loading times and 429 errors (Too many requests)
I was able figure out the cool and very useful text autocomplete API feature for place objects. They/you even include the GeoJSON multipolygon bounds in the results. Looks very nice and useful in this experimental âlivemapâ
[This is an update to this post, which was closed.]
With deep interest and admiration for the impressive iNaturalist system in all respects, including its implementation and API features, I created this lite mobile-y webapp (in Angular v20) to quickly explore brief and basic iNaturalist highlights on a (mobile device) map layout.
I find this to be a pleasant addition or alternative to the existing Android App, or âdoom scrollingâ other Social Media Appsâ˘ď¸** while out and about on a mobile device.
The API is throttled at ~60 actions/min to protect against excessive, repetitive, or bot-ted activity; fortunately this is still sufficient bandwidth for us to skim favorite locations and/or taxa. [Admins: please advise re: API keys/if when appropriate]
The presence of minor bugs is guaranteed; please enjoy nonetheless (and report?)
Bottomless thanks to the iNat creators, maintainers, contributors and supporters for making such a deep and powerful platform a reality.
No usage data is collected, no cookies are used, and copyright information (for iNat thumbnails) is clearly displayed. All links feed directly back to iNaturalist.org.
**(those free of ads and content-injection e.g. ActivityPub servers like Pixelfed excepted.)
This is a âread-onlyâ highlights explorer that provides a more seamless experience for exploring taxa and âtop favesâ in a dedicated map view on mobile devices (though also works on desktop browser).
Neither the Android app nor the desktop site do this well at the moment (on mobile devices).
[On the desktop site the map mode of âExploreâ plays well on desktop, to be fair, including the rich âFilterâ panel, but not so much on mobile]
Adding this âthemeâ over the API has quickly revealed dozens (if not hundreds!) more awesome observations to me, via quick, easy & fluid location based browsing, similar to a Social Media Appâ˘ď¸-like experience
The simplicity and fluidity of this was a goal that complements (but canât replace) the existing Android (and old/new iOS?) appsâwhich appear to be more user account-centric, submission-prioritized experiences (and of course more deeply featured with native device hooks, logins, profile management & I/O etc)
)
