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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LauraChipley | "Hi all - I'm still waiting to get the images from one of the cams deployed in WV (set on time lapse & saving to SD card). Here's a link to a ti..." | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "This is great, thanks for posting! This reminds me of the markings by the door of some shops with security cameras. I wonder if you can buy those s..." | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
| mathew | "done! " | Read more » | about 7 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 » | about 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, Mathew, mind if I retitle this "Use a rubber band and knotted string to trigger a camera"? " | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
| tonyc | "Just a catchup here: I've continued to tinker with the idea, and have a few notes. The two ways to add power to the camera seem to be through att..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "I removed, at the moment, the camera from the greenhouse. I took thousands of IR photos (every 10 minutes for more then a month) I got a movie ( h..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "A DIY spectrometer can be used to characterize the spectral reflectivity of a target if two things are true: The spectrometer must be sensitive i..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "Thank all of you for the suggestions Maybe it is the wrong strumentation but i don't know: 1) If I buy your http://store.publiclab.org/products/de..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| nedhorning | "Hi LaPa - You can contact me at horning@amnh.org and I will send you the spectra. You can also look at this research note for links to sites with ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "Thank you Nedhorning, nice to see your answers in the my research note! I'm reading your notes about calibration trying to understand more about ND..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| nedhorning | "I have the reflectance spectral for these materials and can provide a PDF, Excel, or CSV file of the spectra if someone lets me know a good way to ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "If anyone in PublicLab has a spectrometer and can get the proper calibration targets I could buy it. " | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "The paints are for making consistent whites and greys that will be the same perceptual color across a wide variety of lighting conditions. They are..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "Mathew, I haven't seen any spectral data for Rosco paints. Is there any reason to think that they would be better than other paints for NDVI calibr..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "well, B&H will sell it to you by the gallon. pricey to try out. $42-95 a gallon, but it sure will make a lot of targets. I tried to get chip..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "ok, THANKS all of you for the answers. I like that my research note elicits answers that can also affect other. I am interested to make experiences..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "It would be great to have a few paints that: had reflectance spectra for 400 nm to 1000 nm, were exterior paint, were matte finish paint, were av..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "I haven't played around with it, but I'd assume a neutral gray "TV White" and "TV black" paint like these for TV camera calibration would be the be..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "I don't know of any commercially available inexpensive calibration targets. A good calibration target will have the same reflectance for all wavele..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "Hi, 1) unluckily I don't have access to a spectrometer 2) wich are the companies where I can buy a cheap Calibration targets? 3) may it be fine to ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| tonyc | " Here is the rig, using a ribbon cable and a simple trickle solar phone charger to keep it going. " | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| tonyc | "Sounds like we'll actually be deploying one of these in the field soon, as part of WI frac sand efforts. Very exciting! I went ahead and bought thi..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
| LaPa | "Thank you Chris, I'm going to read with the attention the Ned Horning's note that you link! Have a good day! LaPa " | Read more » | about 8 years ago |