Case Study: Kansas State University turns bee identification into a mobile app with Germinate

Kansas State University turns bee photos into a global data tool with Germinate

The Pollinator Lab at Kansas State University, led by entomologist Brian Spiesman, had developed a powerful AI model for identifying bumblebee species from photos but lacked an easy way to deploy it for public use. They partnered with the software development vendor Germinate to transform this complex model into a simple and accessible native mobile application.

Germinate developed the BeeMachine app using Firebase for the backend and TensorFlow for on-device AI processing. The solution provided a fun, easy-to-use interface that enabled insect enthusiasts globally to become field researchers, capturing bee sightings and identifications. This allowed Kansas State University to collect meaningful data on bee populations from around the world, significantly expanding the reach and impact of their research.

Kansas State University