By fitting a 3D surface model to the image our programs capture a pattern that is unaffected by the camera angle or posture. They then go on to compare the new pattern with previous patterns stored in a library and display the most likely matches. Suitable images may be from researchers or tourists and the resulting database of match results can be used to provide the usual benefits of mark/recapture studies: monitoring of population size and other parameters, determining the fate of individual animals, encouraging cooperation between different research groups and so on.

FREE SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD

To try out the software first unzip the following "chital_demo_folders.zip" file to your c: drive, where it will make a "c:\chital\" folder with a number of subfolders containing sample images and pattern extracts (remember to click the "use folder names" option). The "c:\chital\" folder will also contain an Access database called "chital.mdb" and a UsageNotes.pdf file explaining the process of entering new images, extracting dot patterns from those images and comparing the patterns to the library in order to search for earlier images of the same animal.

Then open the "ExtractCompare_install.zip" file and double-click the "setup.exe" program. Please answer "yes" to retain any files that would otherwise be overwritten by older files.

When installation is complete click on the "chital.mdb" database. Then please follow the  "Getting Started" steps in the UsageNotes to see how the sytem is run to search a catalogue for matches to a new photograph and to test its performance. Please do not add, delete or rename any files or folders in the "c:\chital\" folder except for those in the "c:\chital\download_photos" folder, which is used to hold new photographs that are to be added to the system.

chital_demo_folders.zip

ExtractCompare_install.zip

(note:  last update, 15/12/2011.  in case of problems when running the pattern extraction/comparison program from the database screen please use a shortcut to the chital.exe file instead)