Minor Project Synopsis Report

On

Automating Camera Trap Data Analysis using AI for Wildlife

Monitoring

Submitted By
Specialization Name SAP ID
Full Stack Ansh Garg 500105940
Full Stack Hons. Manjari Yagnik 500107078

School of Computer Science

University of Petroleum & Energy Studies
Dehradun, 248007

Project Mentor Signature Date of submission

 Table of contents

Sr. no. Title Pg no.

1. Abstract 3
2. Introduction 4
3. Problem Statement & Objective 5-7
4. Methodology and Technology 8-12
5. SWOT Analysis 13-14
6. Conclusion 15
7. References 16

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 Abstract
Wildlife conservation efforts rely extensively on camera trap technology for
monitoring species in their natural habitats. However, the manual processing
of camera trap images remains a significant bottleneck, requiring extensive
human effort to annotate images and extract key ecological parameters such
as animal movement, speed, and positioning. This research proposes an AI-
driven automated system that leverages computer vision techniques to
enhance wildlife monitoring by reducing manual intervention and improving
data processing efficiency. The system employs deep learning models,
including YOLOv8 for animal detection, DeepLabCut for pose estimation, and
DeepSORT for movement tracking, to extract critical wildlife characteristics
such as distance, angle, size, and speed. A real-time dashboard, developed
using Streamlit or Dash, will provide intuitive data visualization and facilitate
structured data storage using SQL/MongoDB. The methodology involves
training AI models on labeled wildlife datasets, developing a robust backend
processing pipeline, and validating results against manually annotated data. By
integrating AI-based feature extraction and ecological modeling, this research
aims to provide a scalable, accurate, and efficient solution for camera trap data
analysis, ultimately aiding conservationists in making informed decisions for
wildlife protection.

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 Introduction
Wildlife conservation relies heavily on camera trap technology to monitor
species in their natural habitats, capturing crucial data on animal movement,
behavior, and population dynamics. However, the manual processing of
camera trap images remains a major challenge, requiring extensive human
effort to annotate images and extract key ecological parameters such as
distance, angle, size, and speed. This labor-intensive approach not only slows
down conservation efforts but also increases the risk of human errors and data
inconsistencies.
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision offer a
promising solution to these challenges. Deep learning models, such as YOLOv8
for animal detection, DeepLabCut for pose estimation, and DeepSORT for
movement tracking, can automate feature extraction from camera trap images,
significantly reducing manual intervention while improving processing
efficiency. By leveraging these technologies, this research aims to develop an
AI-driven automated system that extracts key wildlife characteristics and
presents real-time insights through an interactive dashboard.
The proposed system will streamline data processing by integrating an AI-
based backend pipeline with a structured database, allowing for efficient data
retrieval and visualization. This will enable conservationists to analyze large
datasets more effectively, leading to faster decision-making and improved
wildlife protection strategies. Additionally, automation will enhance scalability
and cost efficiency, making the system viable for widespread adoption in
ecological research and conservation initiatives.
By addressing the limitations of manual image processing, this research seeks
to bridge the gap between AI advancements and practical wildlife monitoring
applications, offering an innovative approach to camera trap data analysis.

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 Problem Statement and Objective
Wildlife monitoring through camera traps plays a crucial role in conservation
efforts, providing valuable insights into animal behavior, movement patterns,
and population dynamics. However, the current reliance on manual annotation
and analysis of camera trap images presents significant challenges. Extracting
essential parameters such as animal movement, speed, distance, and
positioning is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, often leading to
delays in ecological research. Additionally, manual data processing is prone to
human error, reducing the accuracy and reliability of wildlife studies. The lack
of automation limits scalability, making it difficult to analyze large datasets
efficiently. There is a critical need for an AI-driven system that automates the
processing of camera trap images, enabling real-time extraction of key wildlife
characteristics and enhancing data-driven decision-making for
conservationists.

Objectives
The primary objective of this research is to develop an AI-driven automated
system that efficiently processes camera trap images, detects animals,
extracts essential wildlife characteristics, and visualizes movement patterns
through an interactive dashboard. This system aims to revolutionize wildlife
monitoring by reducing human intervention and enhancing the accuracy and
speed of data processing for conservationists and ecological researchers.
Sub-Objectives
1. Implement AI-based Animal Detection using YOLOv8
This sub-objective focuses on using YOLOv8 to accurately detect and
classify animals in camera trap images. The model will be trained on
diverse wildlife datasets to ensure robust detection across different
environments, species, and lighting conditions. By leveraging transfer
learning and Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS), the system will
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minimize false positives and maximize detection accuracy. Real-time
inference will enable immediate identification of animals in newly
captured images, significantly reducing manual annotation efforts and
improving processing efficiency.

2. Automate Pose Estimation for Angle and Size Measurement

This sub-objective aims to analyze the posture, orientation, and
dimensions of detected animals using DeepLabCut or OpenPose.
Keypoints such as head, legs, and body center will be identified to
estimate body angles and size. Trigonometric calculations will be applied
to determine head positioning and overall posture. Additionally,
homography-based scaling techniques will be used to adjust size
measurements and account for perspective distortions. This automation
will enable researchers to study animal behavior and physical
characteristics with high precision.

3. Develop Movement Tracking using DeepSORT

To analyze animal movement, this sub-objective will implement
DeepSORT (Simple Online and Realtime Tracker) for object tracking
across consecutive frames. The system will assign unique IDs to
detected animals, ensuring seamless tracking even in crowded
environments. Speed estimation will be performed by calculating
displacement over time, adjusted for real-world distances using camera
calibration techniques. Movement data will be stored and analyzed to
detect behavioral patterns, seasonal migrations, and predator-prey
interactions. This tracking automation eliminates the need for manual
observation, making large-scale wildlife monitoring more efficient.

4. Create a Real-Time Dashboard for Data Visualization

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This sub-objective focuses on building an interactive dashboard using
Streamlit or Dash for real-time wildlife monitoring. The dashboard will
display detected animals, movement patterns, and key extracted
parameters such as speed, size, and orientation. Features will include
real-time image analysis, species heatmaps, time-lapse visualizations,
and customizable filters for species, location, and behavior. By providing
an intuitive user interface, the dashboard will enable conservationists to
monitor, analyze, and interpret wildlife trends more effectively.

5. Integrate a Database for Structured Data Storage and Retrieval

To ensure long-term data management, this sub-objective will involve
setting up an SQL or MongoDB database for storing wildlife detection and
tracking data. The database will be designed to efficiently store
metadata, including species type, timestamps, bounding box
coordinates, movement trajectories, and behavior logs. Data indexing
and API-based retrieval will allow conservationists to perform quick
queries, retrieve historical records, and integrate findings with external
GIS mapping tools. This structured approach will enhance accessibility
and support large-scale ecological studies.

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Methodology and Tools for AI-Based Animeter
Automation
1. Image Preprocessing & Classification
Objective:
Automate the categorization of images into calibration images and animal
movement images and extract metadata.
Steps:
Extract Metadata: Use OpenCV and ExifTool to extract timestamps, camera IDs,
and locations.
Image Cleaning & Enhancement: Apply Gaussian Blur, CLAHE (Contrast
Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization) for noise reduction.
Auto-Classification:
1. Train a CNN-based classifier (EfficientNet/ResNet) to distinguish
between calibration and animal images.
2. Store categorized images in a structured database
(MongoDB/PostgreSQL).
Tools & Libraries:
OpenCV, ExifTool, TensorFlow/PyTorch, Scikit-learn, PostgreSQL/MongoDB

2. AI-Based Animal & Feature Detection

Objective:
Automate animal detection, pose estimation, and reference pole detection to
eliminate manual marking.
Steps:
Animal Detection:

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 1. Train a YOLOv8 model on labeled wildlife datasets for bounding box
detection.
2. Fine-tune on camera trap images for higher accuracy.
Pose Estimation:
1. Use DeepLabCut/OpenPose to detect key body points (head, legs, tail).
2. Estimate joint positions for movement and angle calculations.
Calibration Reference Detection:
Train a custom object detector (YOLO/Detectron2) to identify reference
poles or scale markers in images.
Tools & Libraries:
YOLOv8, OpenPose, DeepLabCut, Detectron2, OpenCV

3. Distance, Angle, & Size Calculation

Objective:
Use detected keypoints and reference poles to compute real-world distance,
angle, and size.
Steps:
Homography Transformation:
1. Map image coordinates to real-world coordinates using reference pole
markers.
2. Use DIP techniques (Hough Transform, Perspective Warp) to estimate
distances.
Depth Estimation:
1. Use monocular depth CNN (MiDaS, DPT) to estimate animal’s distance
from the camera.

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 2. Compare results with reference pole positions.
Angle of Deviation Calculation:
Compute angle between camera, reference pole, and detected animal
body points.
Tools & Libraries:
OpenCV, SciPy, NumPy, MiDaS Depth Estimation

4. Movement Tracking & Speed Estimation

Objective:
Track the animal across multiple frames and calculate speed and trajectory.
Steps:
Frame Matching & Object Tracking:
1. Use DeepSORT (Simple Online Realtime Tracker) to track the same
animal across consecutive images.
2. Assign unique IDs to each detected animal for tracking.
Speed Estimation:
1. Compute pixel displacement & time difference between frames.
2. Convert pixel speed to real-world speed using homography
transformations.
Movement Path Generation:
1. Store detected coordinates (X, Y) in a time-series database.
2. Generate interactive movement paths on a GIS map.
Tools & Libraries:
DeepSORT, OpenCV, SciPy, Matplotlib, Leaflet.js (for GIS visualization)

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5. Automated Report Generation & Data Storage
Objective:
Generate structured reports for conservation studies.
Steps:
Data Storage:
Store processed data in PostgreSQL/MongoDB with timestamp-based
indexing.
Automated Report Creation:
1. Export Excel/PDF reports with species detection data, movement
analysis, and statistics.
2. Include graphs for speed, distance, and movement patterns.
Tools & Libraries:
Pandas, Matplotlib, Plotly, ReportLab, PostgreSQL

6. Interactive Dashboard for Visualization

Objective:
Provide a real-time interactive dashboard for researchers to visualize animal
movement data.
Steps:
Develop UI with Streamlit/Dash/React.js
1. Upload & process camera trap images.
2. Show live AI detection results (YOLO bounding boxes).
3. Display graphical analysis (speed, movement, trajectory).

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Integrate GIS-Based Tracking Map:
1. Display animal movement paths on an interactive Leaflet.js map.
2. Allow users to filter species-based movement.
API Integration for Remote Data Access:
Develop a FastAPI backend to provide JSON-based data access.
Tools & Libraries:
Streamlit/Dash/React.js, FastAPI, Leaflet.js, Plotly

7. Deployment & Scalability

Objective:
Ensure the system runs efficiently for large-scale deployments.
Steps:
Containerization & Cloud Hosting:
1. Use Docker for packaging AI models.
2. Deploy on AWS/GCP (EC2, Lambda, S3 for storage).
Model Optimization for Speed:
Convert models to ONNX/TensorRT for faster inference.
Edge Deployment for On-Site Processing:
Deploy YOLO models on NVIDIA Jetson Nano for real-time detection in
the field.
Tools & Libraries:
Docker, AWS/GCP, TensorRT, NVIDIA Jetson

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 SWOT Analysis
Strengths
1.Automation & Efficiency: Eliminates the need for manual image annotation,
significantly reducing the amount of processing time reqquired.
2.High Accuracy: Uses advanced AI models (YOLOv8, DeepLabCut,
DeepSORT) to enhance detection, pose estimation, and tracking accuracy.
3.Scalability:Capable of analyzing large-scale camera trap datasets.
4.Real-time Monitoring: Provides immediate insights into wildlife behavior
and movement patterns through an interactive dashboard.
5.Cost-Effective in the Long Run: Reduces the need for human labor, making
wildlife monitoring more sustainable and easy for authorities.
6.Data Structuring & Management: Enables efficient storage and retrieval of
processed wildlife data using SQL/MongoDB.

Weaknesses
1.High Computational Requirements: Requires powerful GPUs for model
training and real-time processing, making deployment challenging in remote
areas.
2.Complex Model Training: Deep learning models require large, high-quality
labeled datasets, which can be difficult to obtain.
3.Limited Generalization: The model’s accuracy may vary based on species
diversity, terrain, and lighting conditions.
4.Data Privacy Concerns: Camera trap data from conservation agencies may
have access restrictions, limiting dataset availability.
5.Potential Overfitting: If trained on a biased dataset, the model may struggle
to generalize across different environments.

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Opportunities
1.Integration with GIS & IoT Sensors: Combining AI with geospatial data and
real-time sensors can improve habitat mapping and tracking accuracy.
2.Collaboration with Wildlife Organizations: Partnerships with
conservationists and researchers can enhance data quality and real-world
applicability.
3.Policy Implementation Support: AI-driven insights can aid governments
and conservation agencies in formulating effective wildlife protection
strategies.
4.Commercial and Research Applications: The system can be adapted for
use in national parks, safaris, and academic research to monitor wildlife
populations.
5.Expanding to Other Domains: Similar AI models can be used for marine life
tracking, anti-poaching efforts, and biodiversity assessments.

Threats

1.Data Limitations: Lack of diverse, labeled wildlife datasets impacts model

accuracy.
2.Environmental Challenges: Poor lighting, weather conditions, and
occlusions can degrade image quality and affect detection accuracy.
3.Technological Barriers in Remote Areas: Limited access to high-speed
internet and computing infrastructure in wildlife reserves may hinder real-time
processing.
4.Ethical Concerns: AI-powered tracking could be misused for illegal wildlife
surveillance which might lead to poaching and trade of animal parts.
5.Fast-Changing AI Landscape: Newer AI models may outperform current
approaches, requiring frequent system updates and retraining.

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 Conclusion
This research proposes an AI-driven automated system to enhance the
efficiency of camera trap data analysis for wildlife monitoring. By
integrating deep learning models (YOLOv8 for animal detection,
DeepLabCut for pose estimation, and DeepSORT for movement tracking)
with an interactive visualization dashboard, the system aims to automate
the extraction of key wildlife parameters such as distance, angle, size,
and speed. The implementation of a structured database
(SQL/MongoDB) further ensures efficient storage and retrieval of
processed data for long-term ecological studies.
The proposed solution offers significant advantages, including reduced
manual intervention, real-time insights, and scalability, making it a
valuable tool for conservationists and researchers. However, challenges
such as high computational requirements, dataset limitations, and
potential ethical concerns must be addressed for widespread adoption.
Future enhancements may include integration with GIS mapping, IoT-
based real-time tracking, and multi-species behavior analysis to improve
the system’s capabilities. By leveraging AI and computer vision, this
research contributes to the advancement of wildlife conservation efforts,
providing a scalable and data-driven approach to monitoring animal
populations and behaviors in their natural habitats.

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 References
1. Bowkett, A. E., Rovero, F., & Marshall, A. R. (2008). The use of camera-trap
data to model habitat use by antelope species. African Journal of
Ecology, 46(4), 479–487.
2. Burton, A. C., et al. (2015). Wildlife camera trapping: a review and
recommendations for linking surveys to ecological processes. Journal of
Applied Ecology, 52(3), 675–685.
3. Cusack, J. J., et al. (2015). Applying a random encounter model to
estimate lion density from camera traps. The Journal of Wildlife
Management, 79(6), 1014–1021.
4. Rowcliffe, J. M., et al. (2014). Quantifying levels of animal activity using
camera trap data. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 5(11), 1170–1179.

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