Compare Methods

POST /v1/predict/compare

Returns survival predictions for both planting methods at a single site, side by side, with an explicit method differential.

This is the endpoint that answers the question nobody else can: how does the choice of planting method change the probability of survival at this specific site?

Request

{
  "latitude": 44.12,
  "longitude": -122.03,
  "species_code": "PSME",
  "horizons": [1, 3, 5]
}

Field	Type	Required	Description
`latitude`	float	Yes	Latitude (-90 to 90)
`longitude`	float	Yes	Longitude (-180 to 180)
`species_code`	string	Yes	Species code
`horizons`	integer[]	No	Defaults to all `[1, 3, 5]`

Note: no planting_method field — the endpoint returns both.

Response

{
  "site": {
    "latitude": 44.12,
    "longitude": -122.03,
    "matched_latitude": 44.1087,
    "matched_longitude": -122.0451,
    "match_distance_km": 1.82,
    "region": "pnw"
  },
  "species_code": "PSME",
  "species_common_name": "Douglas Fir",
  "comparison": {
    "manual": {
      "predictions": [
        {"horizon_years": 1, "survival_probability": 0.94, "risk_factors": [...]},
        {"horizon_years": 3, "survival_probability": 0.87, "risk_factors": [...]},
        {"horizon_years": 5, "survival_probability": 0.81, "risk_factors": [...]}
      ]
    },
    "drone_seeded": {
      "predictions": [
        {"horizon_years": 1, "survival_probability": 0.89, "risk_factors": [...]},
        {"horizon_years": 3, "survival_probability": 0.80, "risk_factors": [...]},
        {"horizon_years": 5, "survival_probability": 0.73, "risk_factors": [...]}
      ]
    }
  },
  "method_differential": [
    {"horizon_years": 1, "manual_advantage": 0.05},
    {"horizon_years": 3, "manual_advantage": 0.07},
    {"horizon_years": 5, "manual_advantage": 0.08}
  ],
  "model": {
    "version": "pnw_v0_2_mycel",
    "codename": "mycel",
    "series": "Mycelium"
  },
  "generated_at": "2026-06-25T14:30:00Z"
}

Reading the method differential

The method_differential array shows the survival gap between methods at each horizon.

Positive manual_advantage means manual planting has higher predicted survival.
Negative manual_advantage means drone seeding has higher predicted survival.
Near zero means both methods predict similar outcomes at this site.

The differential varies by site. Steep, rocky terrain may show a larger gap (manual has better seed-soil contact). Flat, accessible sites may show the methods converging. The factors driving the difference are visible in each method’s risk_factors.