title: 3D for the people: multi-camera motion capture in the field with consumer-grade cameras and open source software.
abstract: Ecological, behavioral and biomechanical studies often need to quantify animal movement and behavior in three dimensions. In laboratory studies, a common tool to accomplish these measurements is the use of multiple, calibrated high-speed cameras. Until very recently, the complexity, weight and cost of such cameras have made their deployment in field situations risky; furthermore, such cameras are not affordable to many researchers. Here, we show how inexpensive, consumer-grade cameras can adequately accomplish these measurements both within the laboratory and in the field. Combined with our methods and open source software, the availability of inexpensive, portable and rugged cameras will open up new areas of biological study by providing precise 3D tracking and quantification of animal and human movement to researchers in a wide variety of field and laboratory contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA 23909, USA jacksonbe3@longwood.edu.
authors.forename: Brandon E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1827-6374
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Weapons and Systems Engineering, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA.
authors.forename: Dylan D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA.
authors.forename: Tyson L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
keywords: Calibration; Kinematics; Multiple cameras; Photogrammetry; Videography