observation locations not accurate on map, but correct when individual observations are opened in different tab

[Benjamin Dion]

Note: my main location is Santa Catalina Island, CA, and almost all of my observations are uploaded via the Android app on my Samsung S7. I have noticed this issue on two different browsers on multiple devices (chrome on smartphone, firefox on macbook, chrome on chromebook, chrome on windows desktop). Some of my colleagues have had the same issue, as I frequently use the iNaturalist android app and website on desktop or laptop to report deceased wildlife, document invasive plants, etc. 

Issue:

I've noticed this for a few months now- when I'm on my "Your Observations" page with the master map of all my observations on the right side of the page, there's a few terrestrial observations scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean and San Pedro Channel; however, when I open the individual observations on a separate tab and check their location, it is accurate and showing up exactly where I observed it. 

This isn't really an issue that affects my use of the website- I'm mostly just curious as to why this occurs. 

Thanks,

Ben

[Charlie Hohn]

it sounds like the observations are auto-obscuring. When you see a species listed as rare or endangered/at collection or harassment risk, the location is obscured automatically. A lot of things are rare on those islands so a lot of things obscure. The location will show up as round instead of a pin on the range maps. If things are being obscured and it seems unnecessary (like the species isn't actually rare, etc) it could be discussed here.

Also possible you are obscuring it and don't realize

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Charlie Hohn
Montpelier, Vermont

[Benjamin Dion]

I didn't even think of that... yes, I often document endemics and species that are federally listed and/or on the various California lists.

On Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 9:22:44 AM UTC-7, Charlie Hohn wrote:

it sounds like the observations are auto-obscuring. When you see a species listed as rare or endangered/at collection or harassment risk, the location is obscured automatically. A lot of things are rare on those islands so a lot of things obscure. The location will show up as round instead of a pin on the range maps. If things are being obscured and it seems unnecessary (like the species isn't actually rare, etc) it could be discussed here.

Also possible you are obscuring it and don't realize

On Sun, Apr 1, 2018 at 12:02 PM, Benjamin Dion <bdio...@gmail.com> wrote:

Note: my main location is Santa Catalina Island, CA, and almost all of my observations are uploaded via the Android app on my Samsung S7. I have noticed this issue on two different browsers on multiple devices (chrome on smartphone, firefox on macbook, chrome on chromebook, chrome on windows desktop). Some of my colleagues have had the same issue, as I frequently use the iNaturalist android app and website on desktop or laptop to report deceased wildlife, document invasive plants, etc. 

Issue:

I've noticed this for a few months now- when I'm on my "Your Observations" page with the master map of all my observations on the right side of the page, there's a few terrestrial observations scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean and San Pedro Channel; however, when I open the individual observations on a separate tab and check their location, it is accurate and showing up exactly where I observed it. 

This isn't really an issue that affects my use of the website- I'm mostly just curious as to why this occurs. 

Thanks,

Ben

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[Charlie Hohn]

you can see the real location on some screens (but not all) and if someone has a project and you give them permission they can see the locations (thus only allow viewing of obscured observations for projects you really trust). 

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[Chris Cheatle]

Are the markers almost transparent ? That should indicate the obscured species.

[Robert Taylor]

 These points should rather just be accurate to 1 or 2 decimal places rather than being placed incorrectly in some random spot. 

But this has been discussed and debated in other threads: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/inaturalist/location$20hidden|sort:date/inaturalist/azZvFgv7GQM/DxbdjBkvAAAJ

Are the accurate and full coordinates provided following a motivated request to iNat? 

[Benjamin Dion]

I don't intentionally obscure any of my observations, so I'm not sure why they do that. I guess I should be more careful. As far as the locations are correct, most of my observations are accurate within 10 meters or so and my manually added ones are either accurate to 3m (bc I used a gps unit in the field) or they're accurate to 30+ due to manually adding it- which I only do if I know exactly where I was. 

Thanks for the help y'all.

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[Charlie Hohn]

Things are auto obscured if they have a conservation status unless it’s determined otherwise. Sometimes it seems pointless or even silly (no one is gonna go collect a rare sedge due to slightly ridged nutlets you can only see under a scope) but in absense of other info it functions as a catch all. There are ways the system can be improved but for now it’s a compromise. And because I’m into spatial ecology the obscuring annoys me too especially when it seems unnecessary.

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