Contribute a track
How can you photograph a track?
- Find a clear, well defined animal track in mud, sand, snow, etc.
- Take at least 20 pictures of the track, from all around, at various angles. 30-40 photos are ideal to get a lot of detail, however, 20 pictures will still result in a functional model. Any camera will work (a smartphone camera is fine). Try to take some from an angle low to the ground all around, then more from a higher angle all around, then viewed from the top at different distances. Don’t worry too much about what you are doing, as long as you take some from all around.
- Take one picture from above with a ruler or a reference object (coin, credit card, pencil) in the picture, so we can estimate the size of the track.
- Jot down a few notes: where you found the track (nearest town), anything you notice about the environment, and what animal you think it is and why (if possible). At this point, you can choose to send us your photos and we will create the 3D model for you, or, you can create the 3D model yourself and upload it - see next section.
How can you upload a track to the online database?
Option 1: Send us the photos, we do the rest. Simply place your photos in an online repository of your choice (google drive, dropbox or other), and fill out this form. We’ll do the rest. You will be notified once your 3D model is ready and has been added to the database. Note that we will give priority to modeling and adding tracks for animals not yet added to the database, but all submissions are welcome.
Option 2: Create the 3D model yourself. If you have access to Autodesk Recap Photo (free educational licenses are available), you can create the 3D model yourself by following this tutorial (coming soon). Once your model is created, please upload it to an online repository of your choice (google drive, dropbox or other), and fill out this form. We’ll do the rest. You will be notified once your 3D model is ready and has been added to the database.
Option 2: Create the 3D model yourself. If you have access to Autodesk Recap Photo (free educational licenses are available), you can create the 3D model yourself by following this tutorial (coming soon). Once your model is created, please upload it to an online repository of your choice (google drive, dropbox or other), and fill out this form. We’ll do the rest. You will be notified once your 3D model is ready and has been added to the database.