Geotagging Pest Photos with Handheld Digital Cameras

Transcription

1 Geotagging Pest Photos with Handheld Digital Cameras Robert Hodgkinson, R.P.F., R.P.Bio. Regional Forest Entomologist Omineca Region B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations, Prince George, B.C.

2 Technology!

3 Outline Definition Rationale Equipment Options Software Recommendations

4 Ice Pilots Dambuster Location 16 km northwest of Mackenzie Airport on east side of Williston Lake Photo taken Oct. 20, 2011 UTM = 10 U

5 Definition of Geotagging Digital Photos: The process of adding geographical data (or descriptive metadata) to digital photos so that they can be accurately placed on a map This data always includes latitude & longitude and date & time and may also contain: Altitude Heading (direction the camera is pointing)

6 Plot E photo assessing prescribed burn from May 3rd

7 Photo Geotagged to Google Earth from May 3rd

8 Reasons for Geotagging Pest Photos Simplest & most complete record of pest incursion/damage per location Enables return to the site to treat and/or re-photograph changing damage/symptoms Useful data for hazard & risk rating Can link photos with GPS track file

9 Most smart phones & Blackberries already have GPS chips along with built-in basic cameras to automatically geotag photos. Some require an app download to embed GPS info. into the photo, e.g., GPS Motion X for iphone, ipod Touch, & ipad. Some field GPS units have built-in basic digital cameras such as Garmin s Oregon 550t

10 Almost any digital camera can be coupled with a stand alone GPS and post-processed with photo mapping software to write the location info. to the image s exchangeable image file format (EXIF) (= image data bank) or extensible metadata platform (XMP) format or header. However, automatic imprinting of GPS info. into photos is much more efficient.

11 All GPS data is written into the digital image data bank by the camera at the time the shot is taken. Example of Geotagged Photo Information in Nikon D3100 EXIF file

12 DSLR s with built-in GPS chips: Sony ALPHA 65 Sony ALPHA SLT-A77 DSLR s with GPS feeds: Most Nikon s* Canon EOS 1D Mark III Fuji S5 Pro* * Bluetooth capability

13 Point & Shoots with built-in GPS chips: Ricoh 500 SE Sony DSC-HX5V & Cybershot HX30 Lumix (Panasonic) DMC-TZ10 Samsung HZ35W & ST1000/CL65 Nikon Coolpix P6000 Leica V-Lux 20

14 Nikon DSLR Compatible GPS Units Nikon GP-1 Dawntech di-gps Mini L Easytag Solmeta Geotagger N2

15 Opteka GPN1 GPS unit for Nikon Promote GPS unit for most Nikons & Fuji S5 Pro Columbus ngps for most Nikons & Fuji S5 Pro

16 Bluetooth Technology Need a bluetooth receiver antenna which plugs into the camera s GPS port Then need an external bluetooth GPS receiver Foolography s Unleashed Dx000 plugs into Nikon D3100, D5000, D7000, & D90 Global Sat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver

17 Solmeta N2 Geotagger* Main Advantages: Electronic compass for heading info. Built in rechargeable battery for self-power Can be left on when camera is off 16 seconds to acquire satellite signal cold start Compact (50 g) $160 Can. * Most useable features & value for customer

18 The Solmeta Geotagger N2 can embed GPS data into all current format images supported by Nikon DSLR s: JPG TIFF RAW GPS data can be seen on the camera s view screen (or LCD) or transferred to a PC, laptop, or mobile device via an SD card, USB cable, WiFi, or Bluetooth arrangement.

19 Compatible with: Solmeta N2 Geotagger Nikon D3-series, D700, D300-series, D2X, D2XS, D2HS, D200 (cable A) D90 (cable B) D5000, D7000, D3100, & D5100 (cable C)

20 Some software applications supporting geotagging: GPS-Photo Link* Nikon ViewNX Google Earth & Picasa Flickr Geosetter Jetphoto Locr ArcGIS GeoRover TIGR FalconView Alta4 EasyGPS EveryTrail * First software developed specifically for mapping photos in 2001

21 Geotagged Photo Information on GPS Track

22 Clicking on Location Pin Brings Up Associated Photo

23 An aside: The privacy implications of geotagging has raised public attention. The automatic embedding of geotags in photos taken with smartphones is often ignored by cell-phone users. As a result, people are often not aware that the photos they post on the internet have been geotagged. Geotags can be removed with a metadata removal tool before photos are posted.

24 Summary & Recommendations Geotagging photo technology is becoming more available, sophisticated, & easier Good reasons to geotag pest photos Most options for DSLR & Point & Shoot Cameras If choosing a DSLR, more reasonable price options & capability with Nikon cameras If you go with Nikon & you want heading included, try the Solmeta N2 Geotagger

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26 Main References Bobbitt, R Photographers Have Several Camera Options for Geotagging Pictures with GPS Points. Directions Magazine. White, Terry Nikon DSLR GPS Smack Down Results. Terry White s Tech Blog: Burian, Peter Geotag Your Photos with GPS Devices. Nikon Canada Client Support

27 Thank You! Any Questions?