IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Thomson, R.; Potgieter, G.C.; Bahaa-el-din, L. | |
| Closing the gap between camera trap software development and the user community | |
| African Journal of Ecology (56): 721-739 | |
Like many technological advances in the modern era, camera traps present both an exciting opportunity and a host of unforeseen challenges. One critical challenge is processing the large numbers of images/videos from camera traps efficiently and accurately such that resultant data can be analysed, stored and shared with others. Recognising this need, several biologist teams have developed software to meet their own project requirements, but no one package has been developed to meet the diverse array of requirements of the global research community. We combined an online user survey (N = 67) and literature review to create a list of 42 desired features in five categories. We tested six freely available specialist camera trap software and three nonspecialist image viewer software packages against these criteria. Users were most interested in data processing efficiency and automation features (37 of 84 requests). Seven user-requested features were not available in any of the software we tested. Thirty-two unique requests indicated the importance of software flexibility, contrasting with growing calls for standardization in the literature. We suggest involving the global user community, current software developers and computer scientists in an inclusive, planned approach to addressing arguably the greatest challenge facing camera trap-based research today. |
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