* What kind of camera works best for the PLOTS balloon and kite activites?
Technically, any camera will work for aerial shooting, but compact cameras in the "poin-and-shoot" class are the right size for balloons and kites. Phones with good cameras are also good.

* You will need a camera that can do continuous shooting (or "continuous drive")
<img src="https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/continuous_0.JPG" width="222" </a>

* Timelapse Apps On Phones
<a href="http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/timelapse-apps">Timelapse Apps</a>.  

* Standard Consumer Cameras.
See if your camera is on this <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/products/search/cameras#criterias=SpecsCoreParams%2CSpecsContinuousDrive&includeDiscontinued=No&sort=newestFirst&view=list&page=1&paramSpecsCoreParamsBodyType=UltraCompact%2CCompact%2CSLRLike%2CLargeSensorCompact%2CRangefinder%2CMirrorless%2CCompactSLR%2CMidSizeSLR%2CLargeSLR&paramSpecsContinuousDrive=Yes">list of continuous drive cameras at Digital Photography Review.</a>

<a href="http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/balloon-mapping">PLOTS Map Tools</a>