Assessing residential front yards using Google Street View and geospatial video: A virtual survey approach for urban pollinator conservation

Abstract

Google Street View and geospatial video mapping have been successfully employed to inventory neighborhood environments in a variety of disciplines. However, virtual survey approaches have yet to be leveraged fully for fine-scale auditing of ecological characteristics in urban contexts. Here we propose a method combining Google Street View and geospatial video mapping to virtually inventory vegetation composition over time in residential front yards to assess habitat for native pollinator conservation. As a proof of concept, it bolsters the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual approaches to conduct fine-scale street-level audits of neighborhood environments. Additionally, the findings inform future science-based education and outreach interventions at two study sites.