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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| liz | "Chris' answer is great. I was also going to write in about radish seeds specifically, and generally the need for warmth to signal seeds to sprout. ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "Try radish. They are easy to find as garden seeds this time of year. Other mustards are probably good too (cabbage, arugula, any mustard green). Bu..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "My chia seeds are taking a while; I really like the idea of testing the camera out with sprouts, because a) it's pretty neat to see in timelapse b..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "done! " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| liz | "@warren i'm not sure if any of the Shenango Channel contributors have Public Lab usernames. Glad you are building bridges between these kindred but..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Also talking with a bunch of the folks who've been working on this and wanted to add a link to this customized version focused on Bay Area: http:/..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, i know it's been a while, but curious how this has gone? I was wondering if it'd be possible to trigger a trail camera by flashing an LED in fr..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, Mathew, mind if I retitle this "Use a rubber band and knotted string to trigger a camera"? " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Also glad to hear the trail cam arrived. Please take some good pictures of the setup if possible -- and it's probably a good idea to try an indoor ..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "I love the idea of a Dylos synced with a timelapse. We've been working on timelapse stuff over at the photo monitoring page and are also talking wi..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi Liz, do any of the creators have public lab usernames? I'd love to learn more about the uploading process and whether other groups could use thi..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "@warren Thanks for the copies of the trail cam instructions! " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "@warren @rjstatic would know more about the modification, but the Open Pipe Kit installation you have should be modifiable to send an e-mail notifi..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, in case it's helpful, here are the instructions! " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| stevie | "That's so smart! " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "@stevie Yes, I guess I just kind of assumed that a 2x4 piece of treated wood would be less likely to stand out ( I wrote a fictional name on the p..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "I haven't had to change batteries (yet) since we set it up near the end of October...I do believe that the twice daily pic set-up is the main reaso..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "Super photos, thank you! Have you retrieved images yet? I wonder how long it'll last at a lower capture rate, hopefully the battery will last longe..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| stevie | "@tayreed that sounds interesting! Would love to hear more. @glennwalquist - great setup photos! Did you use the wooden block to camouflage it with..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "Warren, What a putz I am. When I set up our Trailcam, I just kinda followed the the set-up feature intuitively because I lost the manual (actu..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "That's great to hear, @tayreed. I'm also asking around where I live to see if some folks are interested in putting together a guide on setting up ..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| tayreed | "Hey Glenn! Shooting word over from the Traverse City area. I'd love to collaborate and do some spatial/statistical analysis and get some quantitati..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| marlokeno | "Hi, @bkleist- One thought regarding the moisture obscured lens-if the camera is in an enclosure, a small fan to circulate air should help with cond..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| warren | "@DMerwitz @marlokeno @stevie @bkleist @cfastie - just thought you'd be interested to see this effort -- great use of timelapse to monitor smokestac..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago |