Importing Data

Biowatch can create a study from your own camera trap data or from public datasets fetched straight from the internet. Click the + button at the top of the studies sidebar (or launch the app for the first time) to open the import screen:

The Create New Study screen with all data sources

Demo Dataset

A one-click sample study based on Snapshot Kruger (Kruger National Park, South Africa) — ideal for trying out every feature before importing your own data. See Getting Started.

Images Directory

Have a folder of raw camera trap images? Biowatch scans it, reads the EXIF timestamps, and runs a local AI model to detect and identify the animals — entirely on your machine.

1. Pick a model in the dropdown (SpeciesNet is the default; see Identifying Species with AI for the alternatives).
2. Click Select Folder and choose your image directory.
3. Review the deployments Biowatch proposes, then start the scan.

The model needs to be downloaded once before first use — Biowatch will prompt you if it isn't yet installed.

Camtrap DP

Import a Camera Trap Data Package — the TDWG standard used by Agouti, GBIF, and a growing list of platforms. Click Select and point Biowatch at the folder (or zip) containing datapackage.json.

GBIF

Biowatch ships with a curated catalog of camera trap datasets published on GBIF. Pick one from the dropdown and click Select — Biowatch downloads the Camera Trap Data Package, extracts it, and builds the study automatically.

The curated GBIF dataset catalog

Importing a GBIF dataset: fetch, download, extract, import

LILA

LILA BC (Labeled Information Library of Alexandria: Biology and Conservation) hosts some of the largest public camera trap datasets in the world — from Snapshot Serengeti to Wellington Camera Traps. Pick a dataset from the dropdown and Biowatch imports its labels and metadata; images stay on LILA's servers and are streamed in as you browse.

The LILA dataset catalog, with dataset sizes

More Import Formats

Under More import formats you'll find:

• Wildlife Insights — import a project export (zip) from Wildlife Insights.
• Deepfaune CSV — import the CSV results produced by the DeepFaune desktop application.

Merging Studies

An existing study can also absorb data from another study. Open the study's Sources tab, click + Add source, and choose Another study to merge data from a study already in Biowatch, or Images directory to scan an additional folder with an AI model.

The Sources tab lists where a study's media comes from

For the technical details of each format, see the Supported Formats reference.