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: > $103 (with 16g SD card) [Crenova Trail Camera](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016OASTDY/) - 12 megapixel, 8 AA batteries (note that it's actually 5 megapixels, but it stretches images up to 12, unfortunately) Get in touch (jeff@publiclab.org) to organize a local group to assemble, document, and test, and report back how it goes. **** ## Activities [activities:timelapse] **** **Flyer handouts:** timelapse-kit-card.pdf and 4-up version for printing: timelapse-kit-card-4up.pdf **** [](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/019/546/original/tmp_15415-IMG_20170214_121228_354-1789056372.jpg) (Above, prototype box mock-up) ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lot | "Hi! Did you tried FPV Cameras normally used in drones? Depends of the distance, can be very cheap (25$): https://www.banggood.com/FX-FX798T-5_8G-60..." | Read more » | almost 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, Cheryl -- there's a little bit about cell-enabled trail cameras for remote #timelapse monitoring, here: https://publiclab.org/notes/LauraChiple..." | Read more » | almost 7 years ago | |||
| 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 » | almost 7 years ago | |||
| patcoyle | "For prior work see: https://publiclab.org/search/patcoyle?page=1 " | Read more » | almost 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 » | almost 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "Here are the quick-start instructions! Click to expand. " | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
| marlokeno | " My first suggestion is to photograph on a cloudy day. Compensating for the sun is difficult. A polarizing filter helps, as does a uv filter, but ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Hi, This is great! Really helpful, we'll be sure to post back about it. @marlokeno can you loop in with Dwight about this thread? think he'd find ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "(I'm reposting this as an "Answer" because a bug is preventing "Comments" from displaying sometimes.) Hi Stevie, @xose is right about snow and ic..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "Hi Stevie, @xose is right about snow and ice making exposure tricky. The glare from an ice surface can also be a problem with exposure, but that w..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| xose | "Hi stevie!! Cool experiment! In relation to white or high reflecting surfaces It's important to have in mind that reflected light meters are calibr..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "I also wanted to note that folks may be left with a photo series, not a video -- like with the #timelapse trail cameras folks. While we have a ques..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hmm, there are actually a lot of good YouTube videos, but I haven't watched through to find one that covers timelapse mode: https://www.youtube.com..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "No worries -- I think we're hoping someone who does have one can take some photos of the process, or of the manual itself -- or even a short video ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| glennwalquist | "Aw, man....I'm not very tech-savvy when it comes to this particular question. I just read the instructions, then entered the times of day....and ap..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| xose | "Just for the record, It can be easily done using GNU/linux. Here two tutorials for Kdenlive (just GNU/linux) and OpenShot (the only multiplatform, ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| mathew | "On mac, the easiest way is to use Quicktime 7, File --> Open Image Sequence " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "And @cfastie provided some guidance for using Adobe Premier: https://publiclab.org/notes/glennwalquist/12-04-2016/monitoring-sargent-sand-mining-op..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "I did find a bunch of YouTube videos of how to use different programs, but haven't done so myself: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ma..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| warren | "Hi, @bkleist - did you receive the Crenova timelapse cam we sent you? Curious if that'll end up being a lot more reliable. Thanks! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| gretchengehrke | "It turns out that Alternative Method 82 is pretty strict in its procedure, so timelapse and video cameras wouldn't be able to explicitly do that me..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| mathew | "Many trail cams are used for wildlife tracking, with permission from park rangers. I don't know whether leaving one independently is against the l..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| bkleist | "Hi Stevie, I have been using the Mobius ActionCam (https://www.mobius-actioncam.com/) for monitoring silica sand mines in small towns around Wiscon..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
| DMerwitz | "Surrounded. They own there land and minerals and dredge lake! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago |