QR code tree ID project in Florida helps to educate community

QR Code tree ID project - Trees and foliage in Florida

Palmer Trinity School students complete an important tree identification program.

The QR code tree ID project, which was recently completed by the students at Palmer Trinity School (PTS) in Palmetto Bay, Florida, uses QR codes to identify the many tree species within the school’s 60-acre campus. The purpose of the tree identification program is to help educate both the community and PTS visitors on the foliage that can be found around the campus grounds.

Seventy-six species of trees were identified among the more then 1,000 trees on campus.

Working alongside Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden biologists, Palmer Trinity teachers were able to identify and record all the tree species within the PTS campus. Of the more than 1,000 trees that exist on the grounds, they found 76 different species of trees.

The educators and biologists learned that while several of the tree species come from tropical climates from around the globe, over half of them are native to South Florida.

As part of the QR code tree ID project, PTS middle school students and Robert Moore, PTS science department co-chair and science teacher, tagged one tree from each of the 76 identified species. The QR codes, which have been laser-cut into birchwood, are displayed next to the appropriate trees and plants.

To benefit from the QR code tree ID project, students and visitors simply need to scan the QR codes to obtain information about the trees.

Those who wish to learn about the identified tree species on the PTS campus simply need to use their smartphone camera, scanning apps or other QR code readers to scan the 2D barcode and access the information.

Each of the unique quick response (QR) code tags provides information on the specific tree species. Among this information includes both the tree’s common and scientific name as well as its family, origin and a brief description.

“The QR codes make accessibility to accurate information on local flora easier for our students and help spark interest in the importance of each species and its role in our ecosystem,” said Dr. Leopoldo Llinas, director of Environmental Stewardship and science teacher, reported Palmetto Bay News.

“Such learning spaces impart a feeling of the campus culture to students. The culture they sense meshes a respect for nature with their technology habits,” Dr. Llinas added.

QR Code tree ID project - Trees and foliage in FloridaThe QR code tree ID project is the result of wanting to make the results of Dr. Llinas’ initial tree identification project accessible to the whole community, a realty.

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