An Automated Digital Imaging System for Environmental 

Monitoring Applications

By Rian Bogle, Miguel Velasco, and John Vogel 

Open-File Report 2012–1271

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
COVER: 

Right, a dust storm in the Mojave Desert captured by an automatic camera. Left, the automated camera system mounted on a tripod with an anemometer 

and solar panels. Photos by Rian Bogle. 
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2012

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its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit 

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Suggested citation:

Bogle, R., Velasco, M., and Vogel, J., 2013, An automated digital imaging system for environmental monitoring 

applications, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1271, 18 p. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it may also contain copyrighted 

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owner.
iv

Table of Contents

Introduction......................................................................................................................................................................1

System Requirements .....................................................................................................................................................1

System Overview.........................................................................................................................................................1

Data Logger and Software .......................................................................................................................................2

Camera ....................................................................................................................................................................2

Power.......................................................................................................................................................................2

Sensors ....................................................................................................................................................................3

Mounting Hardware/Enclosure:................................................................................................................................3

System Specifications .....................................................................................................................................................3

System Controller ........................................................................................................................................................3

Camera System ...........................................................................................................................................................4

Power System..............................................................................................................................................................4

Software System..........................................................................................................................................................4

Sensors........................................................................................................................................................................4

Image Storage .............................................................................................................................................................4

System Assembly............................................................................................................................................................5

Controller Programming...............................................................................................................................................5

Imager Connections and Configuration .......................................................................................................................5

System Connections....................................................................................................................................................8

Enclosure and Mounting Hardware .............................................................................................................................9

System Operation..........................................................................................................................................................12

Camera Image Retrieval............................................................................................................................................12

Data Retrieval ............................................................................................................................................................12

System Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................13

Example Deployments and Uses ..................................................................................................................................13

Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................................15

References Cited...........................................................................................................................................................16

Appendix A. Equipment/Component List.......................................................................................................................17

Hardware ...................................................................................................................................................................17

Software.....................................................................................................................................................................17

Appendix B. Code Sample ............................................................................................................................................18
v

Figures

1. Campbell Scientific CR200-series data logger, which controls the power regulation, clock, sensors, data 

storage, and camera shutter release for the automatic imaging system. .............................................................3

2. Shutter trigger port on the Canon Digital RebelTM camera and 2.5 millimeter stereo cable, used for automatic 

control of shutter release. .....................................................................................................................................6

3. Wiring of shutter cable and camera to Campbell Scientific datalogger. ..................................................................6

4. Power regulation circuitry for a Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera. ........................................................................7

5. Circuit diagram for power regulation and on/off switch............................................................................................8

6. System wiring diagram for an automated imaging system. .....................................................................................8

7. Lens hood components and enclosure window.......................................................................................................9

8. Camera mounted to back plate inside the enclosure. ...........................................................................................10

9. Automatic imaging system assembled in the enclosure, fully wired and mounted................................................11

10. Dust monitoring system deployed in the Mojave Desert on a mountaintop to provide a wide-area 

perspective..........................................................................................................................................................13

11. Dust storm in the Mojave Desert, captured simultaneously from two different perspectives using this 

automated imaging system.................................................................................................................................14

12. Coral reef monitoring in Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi. ......................................................................................................14

13. Deployment of an automated imaging system on the Navajo Nation for sand dune and dust monitoring. .........15
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An Automated Digital Imaging System for Environmental 

Monitoring Applications

By Rian Bogle, Miguel Velasco, and John Vogel 

Introduction

Recent improvements in the affordability and availability of high-resolution digital cameras, data 

loggers, embedded computers, and radio/cellular modems have advanced the development of 

sophisticated automated systems for remote imaging. Researchers have successfully placed and operated 

automated digital cameras in remote locations and in extremes of temperature and humidity, ranging 

from the islands of the South Pacific to the Mojave Desert and the Grand Canyon. With the integration 

of environmental sensors, these automated systems are able to respond to local conditions and modify 

their imaging regimes as needed. 

In this report we describe in detail the design of one type of automated imaging system 

developed by our group. It is easily replicated, low-cost, highly robust, and is a stand-alone automated 

camera designed to be placed in remote locations, without wireless connectivity. 

System Requirements 

The imaging system as described in this report is intended to be built from readily available, 

low-cost components, powered entirely by solar energy, highly flexible in scheduling and automation, 

and requires no remote communication, minimal maintenance, and only occasional visitation for data 

retrieval. The ultimate goal of the design of this system is that it be easily replicated by others who may 

have minimal technical or electronic experience. 

System Overview

There are four basic subsystems or components that make up this imaging system: the data 

logger, the imager, the sensors, and the power subsystem. The data logger provides the basic 

functionality of the system; it maintains date and time, it collects, records, and analyzes data from 

environmental sensors, and it controls power to and triggers the imaging system as needed. In this 

system, images are stored on the camera itself, simplifying the connection and storage requirements for 

the controller. The imager is a stand-alone consumer-grade digital camera, which must have some 

means for non-mechanical remote triggering of the shutter (as in a wired remote, infrared signal, or 

serial port). The environmental sensors may include typical meteorological instruments for measuring 

wind, precipitation, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, leaf-wetness, soil-moisture, and so on. The 

power subsystem consists of a moderate-capacity sealed lead acid battery, solar panel, and customized 

circuitry to regulate and control power for the camera. Because each of these subsystems has certain 

requirements and limitations, careful consideration of subsystem component selection is necessary. 
2

Data Logger and Software 

The data logger component acts as the clock, programmatic controller, and environmental 

interface of the system. We desired to have a robust, highly configurable device which would be easily 

programmable. Important considerations for the data logger system were the power usage, data storage 

capacity, and clock accuracy, as well as a facility for interfacing multiple sensors and easy data 

retrieval. At the heart of the data logger system should be a flexible programmable software stack which 

allows collection, measurement, and analysis of data from environmental sensors, as well as control of 

accessories attached to the data logger. 

Camera

Critical requirements for automated camera control are the ability to provide power to the 

camera without use of a proprietary battery, a mechanical power switch that can be left in the on 

position in order to control camera power by the flow of current, and a remote shutter-triggering facility. 

A camera with either a power input port or accessory to provide direct current (DC) voltage through the 

battery compartment is required for remote long-term operation. The typical proprietary batteries 

provided with cameras will not last between maintenance visits and are not usually robust enough to be 

charged directly via the solar power system. Cameras with momentary power switches, often found on 

point-and-shoot cameras, cannot be powered up remotely simply by providing current to the camera, 

and require more involved interfacing; thus they should be avoided. The most important feature of a 

camera for use in a monitoring system is the ability to trigger the shutter release or image-capture 

without mechanical means. Many cameras now provide an infrared remote interface, serial or USB port 

protocol, or electrical contact that is capable of initiating image capture. 

An additional desirable feature is the presence of a battery-backed memory and clock in the 

camera. If the camera uses a lithium-coin-cell battery to maintain state and clock operation, the camera 

will keep reasonably accurate time and maintain its settings across power cycling. This allows for 

accurate time stamping of images as they are taken, and retention of critical focus, zoom, and flash 

settings after being powered down. Many consumer cameras, however, use a super-capacitor power 

backup for the camera memory and clock. These capacitors can maintain charge as long as the main 

battery or another power source is present; however, without a power source present the capacitor 

begins to discharge within hours or days, and eventually runs down completely, resulting in a reset of 

the camera settings and clock to default state. Because we must remove the camera’s rechargeable 

battery and use a persistent power source that can be turned on by the controller, a ‘super-cap’ type 

camera requires periodic power cycling of the camera so that the capacitor can maintain charge and 

keep accurate time and settings. For this reason we have found that a camera with a coin-cell battery 

backup is superior to a capacitor backup. 

Additionally, any camera used in an enclosure must have manual fixed focus (to avoid focusing 

on the enclosure window), as well as the option to disable any auto-flash mode. Having these features 

for the camera in question is important in order to avoid poor and inconsistent imaging. 

Power

Important considerations for the power system are the component power budget, the cost to 

generate the power needed, and the ability to reduce the power used by the system as whole. For each 

installation location, it is necessary to calculate total power usage for a 24-hour period and then choose 

battery capacity and solar panel size to match the draw of the system, as well as the constraints of 

latitude and climate on potential power generation. 
3

Sensors

Choices of environmental sensors depend almost entirely on the goals of the application, and 

whether the camera will be triggered based upon environmental inputs or by timed events. The most 

important considerations are the power consumption of the sensors, ease of programmability, and their 

total costs. While in many cases a regular timed image-capture interval is all that is required, in the case 

of dust storm studies, for example, we used the data collected from the sensors to control the capture of 

images. Calculated average wind speeds or averaged particulate concentrations were used to trigger the 

camera. 

Mounting Hardware/Enclosure

To protect the electronic components of the system, it is necessary to have an environmental 

enclosure that seals the system from dust and moisture while minimizing exposure to temperature 

extremes. The enclosure should have a view port approximately 3-4 inches (in) in diameter for the 

camera lens. Additionally, the enclosure needs a secure mounting method for a vertical pole mount with 

adjustable orientations with multiple degrees of freedom, and the materials of the mounting hardware 

and the enclosure should be UV- and corrosion-resistant. 

System Specifications

System Controller

Because it had the most features and flexibility for a reasonable cost, we chose the Campbell 

Scientific CR200-series data logger (fig. 1) as the controller for our imaging and data collection system. 

Notable features include a built-in 12-volt battery charge controller, five single-ended analog 

measurement channels, two pulse counting channels, a software-switchable battery-voltage output, two 

programmable excitation channels, two transistor logic level (TTL) control ports, a RS-232 serial port 

for communication, 512 kilobyte (KB) flash storage, and flexible programmability. These features 

provide the flexibility to add environmental sensors, simplify the power system, and control both the 

power and shutter to the camera, via both manual control and software programming. There is an 

additional cost for a software development kit which is needed for nonstandard sensors and devices, but 

this can be purchased at a one-time cost and used to program as many data loggers as needed. 

Figure 1. Campbell Scientific CR200-series data logger, which controls the power regulation, clock, sensors, data 

storage, and camera shutter release for the automatic imaging system. 
4

Camera System

For this system, we chose to use the Canon EOS Digital RebelTM. The main advantage of the 

Digital RebelTM over other brands and models is long-term stability in design and feature set. The 

Digital RebelTM has a coin-cell backup battery for the clock and settings. The camera also supports a 

persistent controllable power source through a standard AC power adapter accessory, and a mechanical 

power switch that can be left in the on position. This allows a user to power the camera by controlling 

the flow of current to the camera via the data logger and an external power-regulation circuit. Most 

importantly, the camera also includes a wired shutter-control port, which permits electronic image 

triggering. 

Power System

This system typically utilizes a 10-watt solar panel and a 7 amp-hour 12-volt battery to provide 

power generation and storage for this system, giving sufficient capacity to run the camera system while 

taking pictures as frequently as every 10 minutes during daylight hours. This system has been used in 

the desert southwest with many clear, full sun days; other regions and climates may require an increased 

capacity for storage and power generation. 

Software System

The software for the system uses a script written in the CR-Basic language for the Campbell 

Scientific PakBus® operating system. Campbell Scientific’s pc400 development software is fully 

capable of providing communication to the data logger over a serial port connection. It also provides the 

necessary compiler and development environment for writing the custom program required to control 

the camera. 

Sensors

Environmental sensors utilized for this imaging system have included the Davis Instruments 

7911 anemometer for measuring wind speed and direction, Decagon Devices Echo-20 soil moisture 

sensors, Campbell Scientific tipping buckets for measuring precipitation, and Campbell Scientific air 

temperature sensors. Each of these sensors requires minimal power for operation, and thus they are 

power-efficient for long-term deployment. Other considerations in choice of sensors were accuracy, 

reliability, and low cost. Selection of sensors was based upon feedback from colleagues and 

manufacturer specifications. 

Image Storage 

Images are stored on the camera’s flash card storage, thus it is necessary to appropriately choose 

the size of the storage media in the camera to match the maximum number of potential images 

generated by the data-collection regimen. A typical high-resolution image might use from five to ten 

Megabytes (Mb) of storage depending upon the format chosen. For a 5 Mb image size each 1 Gigabyte 

(Gb) storage card could provide storage for 200 images. We find, in practice, an 8 Gb storage card 

provides enough storage for a few months of regular wind-triggered imaging. Images captured by the 

camera must be retrieved independently from the data collected by the logger. 
5

System Assembly

Controller Programming

The principles of a Campbell Scientific CR-Basic script are fairly simple. The script is executed 

on a regular interval ranging from seconds to hours; in that loop you may specify commands to sample 

voltage values on various analog ports, count pulses on input ports, and activate various control ports. 

There are many supporting functions built into CR-Basic to allow calculation of date and time and the 

full range of typical mathematical functions. At any point during the data logger scan loop, you may 

request an update to any database table to store or update values. The database tables are configured at 

startup with parameters for how and when the data are aggregated and stored. 

The typical program loop for a camera control program is as follows: 

1) Get date and time

2) Sample sensor ports 

3) Calculate sensor averages and (or) thresholds 

4) If date/time and (or) sensor input meet thresholds, then 

a) Turn on power to camera 

b) Wait brief delay for camera to stabilize 

c) Toggle on camera shutter control port (take photo) 

d) Wait brief delay for camera to write to storage 

e) Turn off power to camera 

5) Write data to database table 

Testing of the timing and delay periods for camera stabilization and writing should be performed 

with the storage cards and camera being used, as different cameras, storage media, and card brands have 

different startup times and write speeds. A simple example of code written in CR-Basic to trigger a 

Canon RebelTM camera can be found in appendix B. 

Imager Connections and Configuration

On the Digital RebelTM camera, the shutter control port is a standard mini 2.5 millimeter (mm) 

stereo female socket (fig. 2), which permits shutter control of the camera via a standard stereo 

headphone jack when both the left and right channels (red and white wires in fig. 2) are shorted to the 

ground plane of the port. 
6

Figure 2. Shutter trigger port on the Canon Digital RebelTM camera and 2.5 millimeter stereo cable, used for 

automatic control of shutter release. 

 To trigger the shutter via software, attach the left and right channels together and wire them to the C1 

control port of the CR200. The ground wire is wired to any available GND port on the CR200 (fig. 3). 

Figure 3. Wiring of shutter cable and camera to Campbell Scientific data logger. 

In the data logger control software, you must ensure that the default state of the C1 port is set to high. In 

order to trigger the shutter, the program changes the state of the port from high to low for a brief period 

and subsequently returns the control port state to high. There is no measurable current draw on the C1 

port when it is in the high condition and connected to the camera, so there is no waste of power in this 

setup. 

To efficiently control the power state of the camera via software as well as manually, we 

developed a simple circuit to regulate the voltage provided by the battery or data logger and the 9 volts 
7

required by the camera. This circuit enables relay switching via the data logger “SW Batt” port as well 

as a single-pole, single-throw (SPST) mechanical switch (fig. 4). 

Figure 4. Power regulation circuitry for a Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera. 

This circuit is used with a modification of the accessory AC power adapter that is available for the 

Digital Rebel. We use the “dummy” battery component with the DC voltage cord removed from the AC 

converter accessory to connect the 9-V and Ground (GND) outputs of the circuit to the camera. With 

this configuration, by setting the power switch of the camera in the on position and inserting the dummy 

battery into the camera battery compartment, we are able to control the camera power via a switch on 

the circuit board, or via a software command/condition in the data logger. The manual switch provides a 

means for field debugging and retrieval of images on the camera. A basic schematic for the 

regulation/switch board is shown in figure 5. Remote power control of the camera requires that the 

on/off switch on the camera is permanently left in the on position. 
8

Figure 5. Circuit diagram for power regulation and on/off switch. 

System Connections

The aforementioned components - data logger, camera, power regulator, battery, and solar 

panel—are wired together according to the wiring diagram in figure 6. Additional environmental 

sensors can be added to open ports on the data logger according to the needs of the project. 

Figure 6. System wiring diagram for an automated imaging system. 
9

Enclosure and Mounting Hardware

The system utilizes a latched, hinged-lid, fiberglass enclosure (see appendix A) that is rated for 

outdoor installations. The boxes are typically sized 12 x 10 x 6 in. These enclosures are then modified 

with a 4-in round hole. A 4-in ABS male threaded adapter is inserted into the hole to act as a lens hood, 

and a 4-in circular glass window is siliconed into the adapter to ensure weatherproofing and wide view 

angle while minimizing off-angle sun glare (fig. 7). Three-quarter-inch entry ports are drilled in the 

bottom of the box for the cables. 

Figure 7. Lens hood components and enclosure window. 

The cable entry holes are then fitted with three-quarter-inch watertight electrical conduit fittings, in 

order to encase the cables in flexible PVC electrical conduit. This protects the cables against damage 

from wind friction, sun, and animals. For mounting to a tripod or vertical pole, cast aluminum brackets 

(see appendix A) sized to fit 1-inch Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) pipe are attached to the view port side of 

the box at the top, such that a cross arm from an upright pole or tripod can slip through the brackets and 

suspend the box (see fig. 7, far right photo). Using these brackets allows two degrees of freedom in the 

adjustment of the view angle of the box: vertical angle (pointing the camera up and down) and compass 

direction (rotating the box around the pole). The utilized enclosure comes with an internal metal 

mounting plate that can be drilled and tapped to allow surface mounting of components to the plate, 

without adding extra holes through the exterior of the enclosure. Thus all components are mounted to 

this plate, which is then bolted to threaded mounts inside the box. A simple mounting mechanism is 

used for the camera: a one-quarter-inch threaded rod or carriage bolt is attached to the mounting plate 

just below the view port, then a small right-angle bracket is threaded onto the rod. This provides a 

horizontal mounting surface to which the camera can be attached via the tripod mount hole on the 

bottom of the camera (fig. 8). This installation allows adjustment of the camera’s position forward and 

back to compensate for the length of the lens. The position of the rod with respect to the mounting plate 

must be measured and placed so that after mounting the camera, the camera lens is centered in the 

viewport. The fully wired and mounted system of components can be seen in figure 9. 
10

Figure 8. Camera mounted to back plate inside the enclosure. 
11

Figure 9. Automatic imaging system assembled in the enclosure, fully wired and mounted. 
12

System Operation

Typical operation of the system is unattended and automatic. The data logger is programmed to 

collect data on a regular schedule, and analyze the data to determine when conditions are appropriate to 

trigger the camera. For example, our typical applications are related to dust studies and so we program 

our controllers to monitor the 10-minute wind speed average during daylight hours for a preset 

threshold. If, in a 10-minute interval, the mean speed exceeds the preset threshold then the camera 

captures an image, and routine data collection continues. Because not all days will have winds 

exceeding the chosen trigger threshold, we often augment this regime with a regularly scheduled image 

capture (for example, at noon every day). Data retrieval with this system is performed manually, and 

requires visitation to each sensor site periodically (perhaps once per quarter or twice a year) to retrieve 

images from the camera and download data from the logger. 

Camera Image Retrieval

There are two possible methods for retrieving images from the Digital RebelTM camera. The 

most straightforward method is to eject the storage card from the camera and replace it with an empty 

and appropriately formatted card. This requires having multiple cards (usually double the number of 

cameras in your network), but as flash storage media are reasonably inexpensive, this is not a heavy cost 

burden. The replacement card must be emptied previous to reuse or reformatted by the camera upon 

insertion. The second method is to connect a USB cable from the camera’s USB port to a portable 

computer and initiate download procedures via the computer. Typically, Windows, OS X, and Linux 

operating systems will automatically recognize the attached camera as an external storage device and 

prompt for a download of images from the camera to the system. In this case, after transfer is complete, 

the user must make sure that the images are deleted from the camera storage, either by deleting them 

through the computer interface, or by turning on the camera and initiating a full deletion of all stored 

images from the camera menu system. 

Data Retrieval

Recovering data from the Campbell Scientific data logger requires the use of a 9-pin RS-232 

serial cable, a laptop or mobile device, Campbell Scientific support software, and perhaps a USB-toserial adapter, depending upon whether the computer that will be used has an external serial port. 

Campbell Scientific makes freely available a basic support software package, pc208, which provides a 

communication interface for the most popular models of their data loggers including the CR200 series. 

This software is not usually sufficient for writing the programs necessary to interface with the camera, 

and so purchase of Campbell Scientific’s pc400-series software may still be required for programming. 

The fundamentals of communication are the same in any of the Campbell Scientific support software: a 

serial port connection is physically cabled between the computer and the data logger, and the support 

software is initiated and configured to communicate on the appropriate serial port (either COM1 for a 

true 9-pin cable connection or typically COM3/COM4 if using a USB-serial adapter). The support 

software is configured to the appropriate data logger model, in our case the CR200 series, and in some 

cases with a unique site or station identifier of your choosing, and connection is initiated. Upon 

connection it is possible to synchronize the data logger clock with the computer clock, inspect live data 

values on the data logger, upload new programmatic changes, or download the stored data from the data 

logger. Depending on the software used, data download may commence from the last retrieved values or 

from the beginning of the memory. By default Campbell Scientific data loggers use their memory as a 

loop, so when the available data storage is filled it will begin overwriting the oldest values stored in the 
13

tables. Because of this feature it is necessary to carefully calculate the number of records that will be 

written before you revisit the station and download the values, so as to ensure no data will be lost. 

System Maintenance 

Regular system maintenance requirements are minimal. We have found the Campbell Scientific

data logger to be very robust with a reasonably accurate clock. While some clock drift does occur over 

time, this is easily adjusted upon each download or connection to the data logger. The camera clock will 

also drift over time and must be manually adjusted to match data logger time within a reasonable 

margin. Periodic cleaning of the camera window port will likely be necessary, as well as cleaning of the 

solar panels. The sealed lead acid battery, which gets charged by several hours of daylight each day, will 

have a very long life in a deployment. We only consider replacing our batteries after 2–3 years in the 

field. Logging and monitoring the battery voltage via the data logger is a good way to obtain early 

warning of diminished battery life; a rapid drop in voltage after sundown or deep into the night is one 

indication that the battery is no longer recharging or maintaining its full original capacity. 

Example Deployments and Uses

The system described above has had great success in recording events and creating time lapse 

records for multiple uses in a wide variety of settings. We initiated this development to address 

instabilities of an earlier system that relied upon a electro-mechanical actuator to depress the shutter 

button on a camera (Tigges and others, 2001). Due to variations in humidity and temperature, and 

accumulations of dust, this earlier design could potentially trigger intermittently. Our new design relies 

upon digital triggering and an external data logger to record and control the system activity. 

Figure 10. Dust monitoring system deployed in the Mojave Desert on a mountaintop to provide a wide-area 

perspective. 
14

Figure 11. Dust storm in the Mojave Desert, captured simultaneously from two different perspectives using this 

automated imaging system. 

As mentioned previously, this system has been used to react to and record changes in remote locations, 

most notably for our study of dust storm genesis and frequency in multiple locations in the Mojave 

Desert of the American Southwest (figs. 10 and 11; Reynolds and others, 2009). Example images of an 

active dust storm being recorded from two different perspectives simultaneously are shown in figure 11. 

Figure 12. Coral reef monitoring in Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi. 

Additionally, these systems have been deployed to monitor beach and sand bar flux on the Colorado 

River in the Grand Canyon (Grams and others, 2010), in Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi (fig. 12), to monitor 

sediment flux and resuspension effects on coral reef health (Field and others, 2008), in Guam to monitor 

near-shore sediment circulation patterns (Storlazzi and others, 2009), in New Mexico to monitor visible 

air quality, and on the Navajo Nation to assess dust emissions and record sand dune movement (fig. 13.)
15

Under varying conditions, the system as described has proven its reliability over 7 years of continuous 

use in the Mojave and multi-year deployments in the Pacific islands and Grand Canyon. These projects 

have used the cameras as simple time-lapse platforms as well as more sophisticated environmental 

reactive systems using sensor thresholds as triggers to visually record remote events. 

Figure 13. Deployment of an automated imaging system on the Navajo Nation for sand dune and dust monitoring. 

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported through the funding of the U.S. Geological Survey programs in 

Geographic Analysis and Monitoring, Land Remote Sensing, Earth Surface Processes, and Coastal and 

Marine Geology. We would especially like to thank Pat Chavez for believing in automated in-situ 

sensing techniques and supporting and encouraging the development of this system. We would also like 

to thank Mike Field and Richard Reynolds for financial support and providing practical applications for 

which this work was further developed and tested. Additionally, we thank Rich Tigges, Stuart Sides, 

and Deborah Soltesz for blazing a trail in developing these systems. And finally we thank Leila Gass, 

Stuart Sides, Frank Urban and Claire Landowski, all of the USGS, for their patient and insightful 

reviews of this document. 
16

References Cited

Field, M.E., Cochran, S.A., Logan, J.B., and Storlazzi, C.D, 2008, The coral reef of South Molokaʻi, 

Hawaiʻi—portrait of a sediment-threatened fringing reef: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific 

Investigations Report 2007–5101, 180 p. 

Grams, P.E., Schmidt, J.C., and Andersen, M.E., 2010, 2008 High-Flow Experiment at Glen Canyon 

Dam—morphologic response of eddy-deposited sandbars and associated aquatic backwater habitats 

along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 

2010–1032, 73 p. 

Reynolds, R.L., Bogle, R., Vogel, J., Goldstein, H., and Yount, J.C., 2009, Dust emission at Franklin 

Lake playa, Mojave Desert (USA)—response to meteorological and hydrologic changes 2005–2008, 

in Oren, A., Naftz, D.L., and Wurtsbaugh, W.A., eds., Saline lakes around the world—unique 

systems with unique values: Natural Resources and Environmental Issues, v. 15, p. 105–116 (ISSN 

1069-5370). 

Storlazzi, C.D., Presto, M. K., and Logan, J.B., 2009, Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics in 

War-in-the-Pacific National Historical Park, Guam: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 

2009–1195, 79 p. 

Tigges, R.K., Sides, S., and Ohms, M., 2001, Automated Remote Digital Imaging System (ARDIS)—

Applications for Monitoring Dust Emissions in the Mojave Desert, California: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open File Report 01–230, 72 p. 
17

Appendix A. Equipment/Component List

Hardware

• CR-200 Campbell Scientific data logger (see http://www.campbellsci.com) 

• Serial cable and (or) USB-serial adapter 

• Camera: 

o Canon Digital Rebel camera (e.g. Canon Digital Rebel XTi ) 

o Canon Digital Rebel power adapter (e.g. Canon ACK-E5 AC adapter kit) 

o 2.5 millimeter (mm) stereo pigtail (trigger cable) 

• Power control switch and voltage regulator circuit: 

o Circuit board 

o Switch (automotive grade 12 V illuminated switch) 

o 9 V 1 A linear regulator (e.g. LM7809 TO-220) 

o 3 conductor 18-gauge wire 

• 12 V 7 Ah sealed lead acid battery (e.g. EnerSys NP7-12) 

• 10-watt solar panel (e.g. Campbell Scientific SP10) 

• Enclosure: 

o Lens hood and nut ( 4” male thread ABS slip ) 

o Glass lens (cut by local glass shop) 

o Enclosure box (e.g. Allied Moulded AM1206L with backplate)

o Mounting hardware (e.g. NU-Rail 1in. #50 wall flange) 

• Tripod or tower (e.g. Campbell Scientific CM6 or CM10) 

• Mounting cross-arm (e.g. 1” NPS Galvanized Steel or Aluminum Pipe) 

• Mounting cross-arm bracket (e.g. Nu-Rail 1 x 1-1/4in #10 offset reducing cross) 

Software

• Campbell Scientific Support Software (at least one): 

o pc208 

o pc400 

o Loggernet 

• Image processing or viewing software 
18

Appendix B. Code Sample 'Example program to run camera off of CR200 

'Constants and utility vars

Dim Hour

'flags

Public CaptureImage 'flag to take a shot

Public PowerCam 'flag to turn cam on

'Subroutine to trigger C1 to capture image on camera 

Sub Camera_Shoot

SWBatt (1) 'turns on power to camera

Delay(5,Sec) 'let camera power stabilize and cam bootup

PortSet(1,0) 'low is on -- C1

Delay(1,Sec) 'hold low for signal to reach 

PortSet(1,1) 'high is off -- C1

Delay(10,Sec) 'delay for shot and write to cf card

SWBatt(0) 'turns off power to the camera

CaptureImage=0 ‘reset flag in case set by user

EndSub

'Main Program

BeginProg

 PortSet(1,1) 'Port 1 is C1 on the cr200: we set to high by default and drive low to trigger cam

 Scan (1,MIN)

 'get hour for testing 4th entry in return result is hour

 RealTime(Hour,4) 'Hour of Day

 if IfTime(0,60,Min) then 'do something if its top of hour

 if ((Hour>=6 and Hour<=18)) then 'is it a trigger time ex 12pm

 call Camera_Shoot

 endif

 endif

 'If the user sets CaptureImage over serial port then take a shot

 if CaptureImage then

 call Camera_Shoot

 endif

 'allow user to power up and down cam with serial port

 if PowerCam then

 swbatt(1)

 else 

 swbatt(0)

 endif

NextScan

EndProg