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WildObs database
WildObs is building a national camera trap database that brings together previously siloed datasets into a consistent, well-structured, and reusable data resource. By applying shared standards and robust data pipelines, the platform ensures camera trap data can be stored, analysed, and shared reliably over time and across projects.
Standardised camera trap data
Wildlife camera trap data is most valuable when it can be combined, compared, and reused over time. WildObs addresses this challenge by building shared national infrastructure that transforms fragmented datasets into a consistent, interoperable resource for research, conservation, and reporting.
Camera trap data collected in many formats
Wildlife camera trap images and metadata are often stored in isolated systems using inconsistent formats. This fragmentation makes data difficult to combine, analyse at scale, or reuse across projects — limiting long-term monitoring and national insight.
The national wildlife camera database
WildObs' National Wildlife Camera Database is the central data backbone of WildObs. It curates camera trap data from multiple projects into a unified database, applying consistent cleaning, validation and standardisation processes.
Built on community data standards
WildObs database adopts internationally recognised biodiversity standards to ensure interoperability and reuse across national and global platforms.
From raw data to standardised outputs
A simple, end-to-end workflow that turns wildlife camera trap images into reliable, reusable knowledge, supporting large-scale and long-term monitoring across Australia.
1
Ingest raw data
Receive and catalogue camera trap datasets from contributing projects.
2
Clean and validate
Check for errors, missing fields, and data quality issues to improve data reliability.
3
Standardise to CamtrapDP
Structure camera trap data using the Camtrap DP standard for interoperability.
4
Align with Darwin Core
Transform standardised data to Darwin Core for external sharing.
5
Store and index
Store curated datasets in MongoDB and index records for fast querying and access.
40+
Projects
14k+
Deployments
18M+
Images
600+
Species
Dataset
What we're collecting
Figures shown represent the current curated collection within WildObs, following data cleaning and standardisation. The dataset will continue to expand as new projects and regions are added over time.
40+
Projects
14k+
Deployments
18M+
Images
600+
Species
Sensitive data handling
WildObs adheres to community best practices of obfuscating locations for threatened species in public data. Data providers provide preferences as to how data is treated, including coordinate obfuscation or restrictions on site identifiers before external sharing. Data sensitivity classifications will be determined in consultation with data providers.
For more information, please refer to the Data sharing terms.
Packages for analysis and download
WildObs' National Wildlife Camera Database offers open-source R and Python packages to query, download, and analyse standardised camera trap data directly from your workflow.
Python package
access and work with standardised data in Python workflows
Coming Soon
Working together at national scale
WildObs partners with leading Australian research and conservation organisations to support large-scale monitoring, data sharing, and ecological research across Australia.
WildObs is a co-investment partnership with the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) through the Planet Research Data Commons (DOI: 10.3565/bvg2-b035). The ARDC is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
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