Potential of plant identification apps in urban forestry studies in China: comparison of recognition accuracy and user experience of five apps

Abstract

Information on species composition of an urban forest is essential for its management. However, to obtain this information becomes increasingly difficult due to limited taxonomic expertise. In this study, we tested the possibility of using plant identification applications running on mobile platforms to fill this vacuum. Five plant identification apps were compared for their potential in identifying urban tree species in China. An online survey was conducted to determine the features of apps that contributed to users’ satisfaction. The results show that identification accuracy varied significantly among the apps. The best performer achieved an accuracy of 74.6% at the species level, which is comparable to the accuracy by professionals in field surveys. Among the features of apps, accuracy of identification was the most important factor that contributed to users’ satisfaction. However, plant identification apps did not perform well when used on rare species or outside of the regions where they have been developed. Results indicate that plant identification apps have great potential in urban forest studies and management, but users need to be cautious when deciding which one to use.