• Your five-star review of a park may have more weight than you think. Scientists just turned it into data, thanks to artificial intelligence.
• Researchers at the University of Florida based in Fort Lauderdale used machine learning to analyze more than 30,000 Google Maps and TripAdvisor reviews for parks, gardens and greenways throughout Broward County. Their analysis identified 11 types of “cultural ecosystem services” or nonmaterial benefits provided by nature, such as beauty, recreation, relaxation and inspiration. By using this type of AI, they pinpointed which parks offer the richest mix of these services.
• findings, published in the journal Ecosystem Services
• “By applying AI to countless online reviews, we can now measure these cultural values and understand how park design and planning can be optimized for public wellbeing,” said Haojie Cao, lead author and a doctoral student at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, or FLREC.
• The study’s authors suggest this AI-driven approach could be used anywhere, turning what people are already saying online into actionable insights for building healthier, happier communities.
  
• “In some ways, the results could be considered citizen science data since the observations are right from the source.”
• Ultimately, the research offers an adaptable roadmap — powered by AI and big data — for studying, mapping and understanding the intangible cultural values of urban nature, said Qiu.

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