Last updated: March 2026
AI-First Moderation
Every upload is reviewed by our AI moderation system before appearing on the public map. The AI checks:
- Content relevance — Is the image of a plant? Non-plant content (cars, faces, animals, random objects) is rejected with an explanation.
- Photo quality — Is the image clear enough for identification? Blurry, too distant, or poorly lit images trigger requests for better photos.
- Location validity — Are the coordinates reasonable and consistent with the claimed species?
- Species plausibility — If a species name is suggested, is it plausible for that geography and environment?
- Spam and abuse — Is the upload genuine, or does it appear misleading, repetitive or spam-like?
Follow-Up Guidance
When the AI is uncertain, it doesn't reject — it asks. Users may be prompted for:
- A closer photo of leaves, flowers, bark or fruit
- A whole-plant or habitat shot
- Environmental details (soil, sunlight, moisture, elevation)
- Descriptive details (smell, texture, stem type, leaf arrangement)
The goal is to guide contributors to provide useful evidence, not to gatekeep.
Human Review
Records that are flagged as scientifically interesting, unusual or potentially valuable are escalated to human reviewers for further assessment.
Removal and Appeals
Contributors whose uploads are rejected will receive a clear explanation. If you believe a rejection was incorrect, contact moderation@myturbobot.com.
Community Standards
All contributors are expected to:
- Upload genuine plant observations
- Provide accurate information to the best of their knowledge
- Respect Indigenous knowledge and community boundaries
- Not upload offensive, harmful or unrelated content
- Not attempt to manipulate the identification or moderation system