Balloon mapping is a low-cost way to take aerial photos using a camera, attached to a balloon, on a spool of string. People have done this from a few hundred feet up all the way to over 4,000 feet in the air. **** Our whole toolkit is linked out below, but really fast: 1. [Assemble your own](/wiki/balloon-mapping-materials), [buy our balloon kit](http://store.publiclab.org/products/balloon-mapping-kit), or [buy/make a kite](/wiki/kite-mapping). 2. [find a good camera](/wiki/camera-selection). 3. [determine how you will trigger the camera](/wiki/camera-trigger), (we suggest a rubber band) or pick out a [timelapse app for your smartphone](/wiki/timelapse-apps). 4. build a [simple housing from a plastic bottle](/wiki/pet-bottle-rubber-band-rig). 5. find a site to map that is five miles from an airport and [not Washington D.C.](/wiki/mapping-curriculum-regulatory) (or [learn about the regulations](/wiki/balloon-mapping-regulations) yourself) 6. [follow the pre-flight checklist(pdf)](/sites/default/files/Balloon%20Mapping%20Pre-flight%20Checklist%20&%20Packing%20List.pdf) and [quickstart guide(pdf)](/sites/default/files/BalloonMappingQuickStartGuide1English.pdf) to safely fill up your balloon and fly! 7. [maneuver your balloon at your site](http://publiclab.org/notes/gonzoearth/1-2-2013/balloon-mapping-ground-public-labs-field-techniques) 8. sort your images on your desktop ([Mac](/notes/mathew/1-30-2012/efficient-image-sorting-finder-preview-mac),[Windows](/notes/eustatic/06-08-2014/tips-on-sorting-on-windows-including-re-naming-filenames)) or with [Mapmill](http://mapmill.org/). 9. make them into a map with [Mapknitter](https://mapknitter.org). 10. Print a poster of your map from Mapknitter, see your map join the public record in our [archive](/archive), and if you'd like, even in [Google Earth](http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2012/04/public-labs-community-created-maps-land-on-google-earth109.html). [Willie Schubert over at the GeoJournalism Handbook has made a printable walk-through including many of these steps](http://geojournalism.org/2013/08/balloon-mapping-how-to-make-your-own-low-flying-satellite/) ## Activities [activities:balloon-mapping] **** ### Questions about balloon mapping: [questions:balloon-mapping] <b>Browse maps and data generated with this technique in the</b> [Public Laboratory Archive](/archive) <b> Browse [Research Notes on Balloon Mapping](/notes/balloon-mapping) </b> <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3p9puTHOCR0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> _A short video by [Mathew Lippincott](/profile/mathew) on setting up and launching your balloon._ **** ###Grassroots Mapping Toolkit### Our aerial mapping toolkit is a simplified kite and balloon aerial photography system for easy and accessible high-resolution map-making. The tookit consists of: <b><i>Flight platforms:</i> </b>Assembling a balloon kit will cost from $100-200, including helium. * The Public Laboratory [Balloon Mapping Kit](/wiki/balloon-mapping-kit) is assembled from our preferred parts. * For alternative and low-cost materials, see the [Balloon Mapping Materials page](http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/balloon-mapping-materials). * [Use this chart to calculate the lift you'll need.](http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/lift.html) <b><i>Camera housings:</i></b> Single Line systems: [The PET Bottle & Rubber Band Rig](/wiki/pet-bottle-rubber-band-rig) wraps around the small and medium sized cameras (up to micro 4/3) for crash protection while firmly mounting it in a position for vertical images. For heavy cameras, a [Trash Can Rig offers more protection.](/wiki/trash-can-rig-heavy-cameras) Multiple Line Systems: these are more complex to build but can provide added stability, especially useful for video. [Several people have created Picavet rigs.](/wiki/picavet-rigging) <b><i>Cameras:</i></b> A small camera that supports continuous shooting mode and a large storage card, or an excellent camera phone are our preferred options. * Help [selecting a camera](/wiki/camera-selection) * Different ways of [triggering the camera shutter](/wiki/camera-trigger) <b><i>Mapmaking software:</i></b> Public Laboratory's [MapKnitter](https://mapknitter.org) is easy to use browser software for map making. Continue on to [MapKnitter Guide](http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/mapknitter) and [MapKnitter Help](http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/mapknitter-help) for more information. * When mapmaking, efficient image sorting [either on your desktop](https://publiclab.org/notes/mathew/1-30-2012/efficient-image-sorting-finder-preview-mac), or using [Mapmill](/wiki/upon-return) is a must. * Some people also use proprietary software such as Photoshop, [Hypr3d](http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/warren/2-10-2012/thatchmore-farms-hypr3d-model), or [PhotoSynth](http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/lpercifield/6-28-2011/3d-point-cloud). For a freely distributed desktop option, check out the <a href="http://www.gimp.org/">GNU Image Manipulation Program</a>. <b><i>Useful guides:</i></b> Our latest guides can always be found on the [Guides](/guides) page, including: * The four-page [Grassroots Mapping Guide](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BJxYKVYdUimf5s3hOVoQCWPoj1UinaIaAEKF65Q2pbc/edit#slide=id.g84b9a2f_1_14) * The [Balloon Mapping Quick Start Guide to filling and flying](http://archive.publiclaboratory.org/download/balloon-mapping-quickstart-1.0-en.pdf) (pdf) and [editable Google Doc](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1f397WvHyZtwyDEqXIIrNpLBfNfw2accAWzQhdvhg4TA/edit) * The [Balloon Mapping Check Lists](https://publiclab.org/sites/default/files/balloon-mapping-preflight-checklist.pdf) (pdf) and [editable Google Doc](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UUiQt-p2npJiIi48v_3o2_keeqEEzHc1yONybGeYF-E/edit), which are extremely useful in planning field expeditions, even for experienced fliers. * We also maintain a [guide to FAA regulations](/wiki/balloon-mapping-regulations) page. <b><i>Curricula and workshops:</i></b> Our [Curriculum-Guide](/wiki/mapping-curriculum) covers the entire process and some theory behind mapping. It is still in beta. ###Advanced Techniques### * [Near-infrared imagery](/tool/near-infrared-camera) for vegetation monitoring and other uses. * [Image analysis](/wiki/image-analysis) - Try some of these techniques for bringing out detail and compositing your images with [near-infrared imagery](/tool/near-infrared-camera). * [Ground control point targets](/wiki/ground-control-point-targets) for correlating on-the-ground measurements directly with photos. * [Balloon telemetry](/tool/balloon-telemetry-kit) for recording GPS and gyroscopic data. * [Kite Balloons](/tool/kite-balloon-hybrid) experiments in wind-stabilized balloons * [Hydrogen ballooning](/wiki/hydrogen-balloons) - be very careful! ...
Title | URL | Last edited | Edits | Page Views | Likes |
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Kits Docs | /wiki/kits-docs | almost 3 years ago by warren | 10 | 617 | 0 |
Image Sorting | /wiki/image-sorting | over 3 years ago by zengirl2 | 4 | 781 | 1 |
Mapping Requests | /wiki/mapping-requests | over 3 years ago by warren | 5 | 395 | 1 |
Pi Camera | /wiki/pi-camera | over 1 year ago by warren | 15 | 2,090 | 3 |
Public Lab Launches Balloon Mapping Kit Campaign with Kickstarter Gold | /wiki/public-lab-launches-balloon-mapping-kit-campaign-with-kickstarter-gold | over 3 years ago by Bronwen | 1 | 345 | 0 |
SkyPod GPS Logger | /wiki/skypod-gps-logger | about 3 years ago by cfastie | 8 | 739 | 2 |
Mini Balloon Kit | /wiki/mini-balloon-kit | over 2 years ago by warren | 14 | 1,327 | 2 |
Calling for your favorite Kite/Balloon Mapping images and video! | /wiki/calling-for-your-favorite-kite-balloon-mapping-images-and-video | over 3 years ago by xose | 2 | 16 | 0 |
Photo Sharing | /wiki/photo-sharing | over 3 years ago by xose | 6 | 668 | 1 |
Kite making | /wiki/kite-making | almost 4 years ago by warren | 6 | 973 | 2 |
Reconfigurable Rig | /wiki/reconfigurable-rig | over 4 years ago by mathew | 6 | 234 | 1 |
Pendulum Rig Kit Documentation | /wiki/pendulum-rig-kit-documentation | almost 5 years ago by tonyc | 7 | 284 | 3 |
Aerial Imagery in the Public Domain | /wiki/aerial-imagery-in-the-public-domain | over 3 years ago by stevie | 17 | 1,856 | 6 |
KAPtery Aerial Rigs | /wiki/kaptery-aerial-rigs | almost 4 years ago by cfastie | 4 | 1,055 | 10 |
How to Map | /wiki/how-to-map | over 1 year ago by stevie | 15 | 302 | 4 |
Revealing the Invisible in Spain | /wiki/revealing-the-invisible-in-spain | almost 6 years ago by mollydanielsson | 2 | 160 | 1 |
Protest Mapping by Oscar Brett | /wiki/protest-mapping-by-oscar-brett | almost 6 years ago by mollydanielsson | 6 | 531 | 1 |
GLAM Two-Tether Balloon Method: navigating urban waterways | /wiki/glam-two-tether-balloon-method-navigating-urban-waterways | almost 6 years ago by mollydanielsson | 3 | 216 | 0 |
Vadi Asbestonim | /wiki/asbestonim-test | almost 6 years ago by asbest | 27 | 199 | 1 |
Aerial Balloon Mapping | /wiki/balloon-mapping-of-local-invasive-species-and-town-mapping | over 4 years ago by abdul | 29 | 619 | 2 |
Youth Balloon Mapping Workshop Curriculum | /wiki/youth-balloon-mapping-workshop-curriculum | over 6 years ago by warren | 3 | 176 | 2 |
Balloon Mapping Guide | /wiki/balloon-mapping-guide | over 4 years ago by abdul | 6 | 441 | 0 |
Mapping Curriculum: High Altitude Mapping | /wiki/mapping-curriculum-high-altitude-mapping | almost 7 years ago by gonzoearth | 8 | 235 | 1 |
Kingsland Park | /wiki/kingsland-park | over 7 years ago by gdotoli | 1 | 123 | -1 |