Photo Monitoring
photo-monitoring

Photography is a powerful and affordable way to document all kinds of environmental issues. We'll be collecting different techniques and tips here -- stay tuned and pitch in where you can! We'll be starting with a focus on #timelapse photography: ## Why Timelapse photography is a visual form of data collection that: - is relatively cheap to collect (~$100, [see below](#Get+a+timelapse+camera)) - produces easier-to-read data: photos - can give good visual context to a problem, compared to (or paired with) sensor data - situates the data in a timeline #### What environmental problems might this apply to Timelapse photography, or photographic monitoring is a good way to document the changes in a landscape over time, or an incident you need images of when you might not be there to capture them in person such as: - [sediment runoff](https://publiclab.org/notes/mlamadrid/06-22-2016/documenting-runoff-with-photography) in a stream from a disturbed site - the changes in [opacity](https://publiclab.org/wiki/visual-pm) of a smoke stack or blowing off of a pile - an explosion at a [mountaintop mining site](https://publiclab.org/notes/LauraChipley/09-18-2015/hacking-trail-cameras-to-document-blasts-on-mountaintop-removal-sites) - activity [at sand mines](https://publiclab.org/notes/glennwalquist/12-04-2016/monitoring-sargent-sand-mining-operation-in-ludington-michigan) ![image description](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/019/621/medium/Screenshot_2017-02-23_at_4.17.53_PM.png "Screenshot_2017-02-23_at_4.17.53_PM.png") (Above: monitoring a mountaintop removal site: [see this note](https://publiclab.org/notes/LauraChipley/09-18-2015/hacking-trail-cameras-to-document-blasts-on-mountaintop-removal-sites)) #### Limitations - To set up the camera, you will need access to a secure location where your site of interest can be seen. - Depending on how often you have the camera set to take photos, you could end up with a lot of images to go through. - There have been documented challenges in capturing images with glare (from the sun, snow and water) (see [Frequently Asked Questions](https://publiclab.org/wiki/photo-monitoring#Frequently+Asked+Questions)) #### Conversations & collaboration * Discussions around photographic monitoring are happening on the Midwest group through a few on-going projects, as well as on publiclab.org through this page _(see the [Activities](https://publiclab.org/wiki/photo-monitoring#Timelapse+Activities), [Frequently Asked Questions](https://publiclab.org/wiki/photo-monitoring#Frequently+Asked+Questions), and [Updates](https://publiclab.org/wiki/photo-monitoring#Updates) sections below)_ Midwest group: publiclab-midwest **** ![timelapse-camera](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/019/554/medium/IMG_20170202_132917_566.jpg) ### Get a timelapse camera Timelapse cameras can be found at sporting goods stores and online. They are also called "trail cameras" or "game cameras." See the [Timelapse Kit page](/wiki/timelapse) for more, and to borrow one (if available) ### Case studies [notes:timelapse:story] [map:tag:timelapse-story:44:-91] **** ### Related techniques Timelapse photography may also make use of a number of other techniques, such as: * [Triggering cameras](/wiki/camera-trigger) * [Photo sharing](/wiki/photo-sharing) - different ways to share, distribute, upload LOTS of photos online There are also possibilities with cell-network-enabled trail cameras, though they're mostly a bit more expensive; they'd need a mobile phone plan and a SIM card to work. Many are around $400, but these (pretty poorly rated) ones were around $100: * [E-TECHING](https://www.amazon.com/E-TECHING-Camera-Infrared-Digital-Integrated/dp/B01KX3M5XI/) - $100 * [Docooler](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DSS7Q4I?psc=1) - $90 * [SUNLUXY](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016ZX1478?psc=1) - $109 **** ### Updates [notes:photo-monitoring] ### Timelapse Activities Timelapse photography is a way to automatically trigger a camera on an interval -- for example, every minute, or every hour. Here are some posted activities related to timelapse; we're still seeking a clear guide to setting up and using a #trail-cam to do timelapses, so **please reach out if you're able to help document this**! [activities:timelapse] ### Frequently Asked Questions We're collecting and working our way through a wide array of questions about timelapse photography -- if you can contribute your own questions, or answer others', please do! [questions:timelapse] **** ### Frac sand photographic monitoring There's some good resources [posted on this page](https://publiclab.org/wiki/frac-sand-action-oriented-resources#Photographic+Monitoring) which are specific to water monitoring or monitoring of frac sand sites -- check it out, and we're working to open some of these ideas up into questions and activities soon. **** #### About the data **Type of data** This method produces data in the form of images. Most cameras are also able to timestamp images. _Addons:_ - Some cameras also have the ability to capture GPS data. - This monitoring method can be paired with weather monitoring stations for a richer data set. - Sending images to the internet has been another add-on for these type of projects. **Uses for the data** - Government agencies often find photographic data useful evidence. [Read more about this here.](https://publiclab.org/notes/warren/11-22-2016/interview-chris-nidel-on-environmental-evidence-in-court#Photographic+evidence) - Photographs of events or land change are useful tools in persuasion for publications, or in public comment. [Read more about this here](https://publiclab.org/notes/mlamadrid/06-22-2016/using-photographs-in-fighting-mining-companies). ...


Author Comment Last activity Moderation
warren "@warren awards a barnstar to xose for their awesome contribution! " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Hooray! Great approach and MUCH appreciated! " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
stevie "Hi there, wondering if you've been able to get the camera up and running? Think we might try to get one going in New Orleans to watch for stormwate..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
dswenson "The lower seal of the camera encasement did get ~24 hours of prolonged exposure (partial submersion) to elevated water volume during last week's he..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Wow yeah, i'd thought it was waterproof, but it's good to know (although too bad!) that heavy rains can damage it. Do you think it got submerged at..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
stevie "Hi Dwight, wow sorry to hear it was damaged -maybe we should look into a different type of camera @warren . Would have been great to catch some of ..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
dswenson "Hi Stevie, I'll attach some recent sedimentation examples. We've experienced heavy rain fall and flooding this month which caused moisture damage..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
stevie "Hi Dwight! Have you tried to up the photos taken per day? catch anything interesting? " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
bkleist "Unfortunately the cameras had been giving us a lot of trouble, and have not yet been deployed. The good news is that I was able to figure out how t..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Harry Simpson shared this on the discussion lists: http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=njtip " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
stevie "Thanks for the post! Any updates on where the camera is? " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
xose "By the way warren, I'll follow close the outcome of the work around the Social Emergency Response Center (if finally there's time) " | Read more » about 7 years ago
xose "And encrypted storage, both local and online. CameraV is a great tool! As always reccomend, using the "historical images" of google earth gives us ..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
xose "I've just mailed you to the unterbahn ;) " | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "This doesn't offer guidance on the survey itself, but has a lot of information about taking an individual photo with good metadata, and a means to ..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Via @juliakumari: We did this video on how to do it for weather and climate related photo surveys. Hope it helps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "In person, @xose? :-) " | Read more » about 7 years ago
xose "I will be attending! " | Read more » about 7 years ago
dswenson "Thanks Warren. Blasting events resonate landscape and concern! " | Read more » about 7 years ago
stevie "Wow! looks like you have a great spot for the camera! Thanks for posting " | Read more » about 7 years ago
stevie "Wow this thread is such a great resource! Thanks all for posting in! " | Read more » about 7 years ago
marlokeno "@warren A few notes about that green stuff. I've been looking into information on mine reclamation with our local sand mines, which are, unfortunat..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Also, I'm curious what the green stuff is applied near the roads; I've heard that "reclamation" can be selectively applied with invasive grass arou..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Oh, that's great to hear, @bkleist, and yes, you can use http://ifttt.com to get an email to trigger a text message. I'm happy to help you get that..." | Read more » about 7 years ago