Camera traps have been a key part of the conservation toolkit for decades. Remotely triggered video or still cameras allow researchers and managers to monitor cryptic species, survey populations, and support enforcement responses by documenting illegal activities. Increasingly, machine learning is being implemented to automate the processing of data generated by camera traps.
A recent study published showed that, despite being well-established and widely used tools in conservation, progress in the development of camera traps has plateaued since the emergence of the modern model in the mid-2000s, leaving users struggling with many of the same issues they faced a decade ago. That manufacturer ratings have not improved over time, despite technological advancements, demonstrates the need for a new generation of innovative conservation camera traps. Join this group and explore existing efforts, established needs, and what next-generation camera traps might look like - including the integration of AI for data processing through initiatives like Wildlife Insights and Wild Me.
Group Highlights:
Our past Tech Tutors seasons featured multiple episodes for experienced and new camera trappers. How Do I Repair My Camera Traps? featured WILDLABS members Laure Joanny, Alistair Stewart, and Rob Appleby and featured many troubleshooting and DIY resources for common issues.
For camera trap users looking to incorporate machine learning into the data analysis process, Sara Beery's How do I get started using machine learning for my camera traps? is an incredible resource discussing the user-friendly tool MegaDetector.
And for those who are new to camera trapping, Marcella Kelly's How do I choose the right camera trap(s) based on interests, goals, and species? will help you make important decisions based on factors like species, environment, power, durability, and more.
Finally, for an in-depth conversation on camera trap hardware and software, check out the Camera Traps Virtual Meetup featuring Sara Beery, Roland Kays, and Sam Seccombe.
And while you're here, be sure to stop by the camera trap community's collaborative troubleshooting data bank, where we're compiling common problems with the goal of creating a consistent place to exchange tips and tricks!
Header photo: Stephanie O'Donnell
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PhD student at the University of Zürich (CH) in PopEcol group, working with camera traps and mammals
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Article
Machine learning is widely recognized as the solution to camera trap data processing, but a user-friendly and broadly-accessible system for putting this tech to use has not yet been developed. In this case study,...
1 October 2018
Article
Motion-sensing wildlife-tracking cameras in South Sudan have captured 425,000 photos, documenting species not previously known to be found in this richly forested area. The team is now asking for your help to identify ...
22 August 2018
Article
In this case study, Sam Seccombe documents his efforts to track down an off-the-shelf remote camera setup with the capability to stream quality, reliable video from the field. As he explains, it was a slighlty more...
25 July 2018
Article
This latest chapter in the Conservation Technology Series from WWF-UK looks at the opportunities, challenges and state-of-the-art of satellite remote sensing for conservation applications. This issue reviews available...
23 April 2018
Funding
The Plant-Powered Camera Trap Challenge
Alasdair Davies
Are you an architect, engineer, designer or a scientist? Can you design and manufacture a prototype open source plant-BES (bio electrochemical system) to power a camera trap and environmental sensors in tropical forests...
3 April 2018
Article
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge 2018: Our Top 10
WILDLABS Team
Hundreds of people joined our #Tech4Wildlife photo challenge this year, showcasing all the incredible ways tech is being used to support wildlife conservation. We've seen proximity loggers on Tasmanian Devils in...
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‘The Field’… Say the words ‘The Field’ to a group of conservationists and it will immediately conjure up vivid memories of everything from sticky wet rainforests to burning dusty deserts. What’s more, it’s almost...
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FIT Cheetahs
Larissa Slaney
A new research project is looking to investigate whether technology combined with the ancient skills and knowledge of Namibian trackers can help save cheetahs from extinction. Called FIT Cheetahs, the research project...
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HWC Tech Challenge Update: Meet the Judges
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Our panel of international experts has been hard at work reviewing the 47 proposals we recieved for innovative technological tools to address human wildlife conflict. The panelists have systematically been assessing the...
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Download New Conservation Tech Guidelines: Camera Traps, Acoustics and LiDAR
Paul Glover-Kapfer
The inherent complexity of not only deploying technologies in the field but also doing so in a scientifically rigorous manner can prove a substantial barrier for the effective use of conservation technologies, and clear...
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As pressure on marine resources increases, fishers have to explore deeper and deeper waters to make a living. What does this mean for Belize’s deep-sea sharks? In an effort to understand the threats to these animals,...
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Frustrated by the limitations of the tools that were available for managing large camera trap data sets, Heidi Hendry and Chris Mann set out to develop something that met their needs, and thus, Camelot was born. In...
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| The sequence of images in the attached brief report shows why camera traps must be tested with real animal targets, and not with humans. The camera easily detects a human, but... |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 6 months ago | |
| Hi Egil, When you mention 'location' you refer to the location of the images from where they are imported from? And not the gps location from the EXIF data if it's... |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 7 months ago | |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 9 months ago | |
| If you're planning a camera trap survey, then look no further. We've read through most (all?!) of the camera trap literature, so... |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 10 months ago | |
| Hi John, They will want a camera with good tolerance to humidity + precipitation (so a camera with a proper O-ring seal, and pack it with regularly-dried silica gel).... |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 10 months ago | |
| Hi all, If you haven't please take this survey on camera traps led by @P.Glover.Kapfer . I'm posting it here to... |
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Camera Traps | 7 years 10 months ago | |
| @@Chloe+Aust - pls google “ltl acorn uk”， you will get a lot info. No, no limited, just the company's sale rules. You could use it anywhere, but... |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 1 month ago | |
| Fair point, it isn't a peer reviewed article as yet. I had a poke around out of curiosity and wasn't able to track down a fully published paper yet (thought it's been... |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 1 month ago | |
| black thinking hat ! Interesting and honest. |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 2 months ago | |
| Steph, Not quite. I'm coordinating a fauna monitoring project for a Landcare network and, of course, we hope to get phascogales. I've just retrieved a batch of cameras... |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 4 months ago | |
| A number of good points have been made. In terms of remote-enable camera traps, you will mainly find one that use cellular data signals to transmit images. Typically these are... |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 5 months ago | |
| Thanks, i send the it to my chinese friends, i am sure some of them finished the survey. cheers Kai |
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Camera Traps | 8 years 5 months ago |
