The **Public Lab Timelapse Kit**: fight polluters by catching them on film! _Above image via @glennwalquist -- [read more](/notes/glennwalquist/12-04-2016/monitoring-sargent-sand-mining-operation-in-ludington-michigan#c16131)_ A number of folks are working across the Public Lab network to set up cheap #timelapse cameras. Help out and hold polluters accountable! ## How it works It doesn't completely -- yet! We're testing this approach in a few places around the country, and looking to prove it out more. But the basic idea is to point a timelapse camera at a place where you hope to catch pollution happening, to collect evidence and to pressure them to stop. [](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/019/690/original/Screen_Shot_2017-02-28_at_2.34.17_PM.png) (above, timelapse of [blasting at a mountaintop removal site](/notes/LauraChipley/09-18-2015/hacking-trail-cameras-to-document-blasts-on-mountaintop-removal-sites#c16250) via @LauraChipley) This could be used at: * refineries * mine sites * industrial facilities * anywhere you can safely place the camera ## How to help We're collecting well-documented examples of this technique in action, and we need: * great photos of camera setups * example footage * easy instructions on how to share your images ## Questions [questions:timelapse] **** ## Try it out We're organizing meet-ups to assemble kits, test them out, document and install them, so that lots of people have a chance to learn how to do this and spread the word. The basic kit is based on: > $103 (with 16g SD card) [Crenova Trail Camera](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016OASTDY/) - 12 megapixel, 8 AA batteries (note that it's actually 5 megapixels, but it stretches images up to 12, unfortunately) Get in touch (jeff@publiclab.org) to organize a local group to assemble, document, and test, and report back how it goes. **** ## Activities [activities:timelapse] **** **Flyer handouts:** timelapse-kit-card.pdf and 4-up version for printing: timelapse-kit-card-4up.pdf **** [](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/019/546/original/tmp_15415-IMG_20170214_121228_354-1789056372.jpg) (Above, prototype box mock-up) ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cfastie | "Point and shoot cameras typically last a few hours when running on batteries. Trail cameras typically last a few months to a year because they ente..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| patcoyle | "For prior work see: https://publiclab.org/search/patcoyle?page=1 " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| patcoyle | "It's been a while since I've flown my cameras, but my suggestion is to try you cameras and get develop your own data for what you can expect out of..." | Read more » | over 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 » | over 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 » | over 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 » | over 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 » | over 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 » | over 7 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Hi Dwight! Have you tried to up the photos taken per day? catch anything interesting? " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| liz | "Wow, super!!! " | Read more » | over 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 » | over 7 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Thanks for the post! Any updates on where the camera is? " | Read more » | over 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 » | over 7 years ago | |||
| xose | "I've just mailed you to the unterbahn ;) " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "In person, @xose? :-) " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| xose | "I will be attending! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "These folks apparently did use timelapse cameras to track truck traffic: https://publiclab.org/notes/mathew/05-20-2014/frac-sand-frisbee-maps-again..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| dswenson | "Thanks Warren. Blasting events resonate landscape and concern! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Wow! looks like you have a great spot for the camera! Thanks for posting " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Wow this thread is such a great resource! Thanks all for posting in! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| liz | "Perhaps see related tutorial on estimating the height of waste piles (the flipside of the problem you are facing here): https://publiclab.org/notes..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "I really like the motion sensor truck counter approach. Do you think the motion sensing abilities of the Crenova trail camera will work for this? P..." | Read more » | over 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 » | over 7 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "@cfastie @warren@tayreed@patcoyle Thanks for this incredibly valuable input as to the potential for measuring extracted volumes and stored pile..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago |