Current progress and boundaries
Species recognition models are used in some monitoring projects, but species distributions vary substantially by region, equipment, and season.
Why it remains difficult
Rare species have few samples, and juveniles and similar species are hard to distinguish. Monitoring data can reveal endangered species locations, so access must be tightly controlled.
Paths worth exploring
Keep original images and model confidence scores so experts can quickly review difficult samples. Apply tiered permissions to location data and cross-check findings with traditional surveys.
How to evaluate success
Measure recall and misidentification rates by species, manual screening time, and protection of sensitive data, with particular attention to missed rare species.