Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 31, 2012 2:42 pm I'm looking for ideas of how I might be able to get a decent time-lapse recording of my house being built as it happens, which is due to start in a few weeks time. This discussion might be a bit OT for this subforum, as I'm after ways (eg devices) of doing it, but the end result and intent will be to be able to see little guys running around in stop-motion, a roof slowly going up, and eventually a closed-over house in the finished shot. The first question is device - I'm currently looking at the Wingscapes PlantCam, but I'm seeing alternatives I can consider. High-quality photos is not a huge concern, but cost would be nice to keep down - mainly because I wouldn't be surprised to see them get pinched. Ideally I'm looking for something that I can install somewhere on-site, but not have to go on-site and get in the way to get the data from. So I'd be looking for something I can easily swap out multiple SD cards from, or even better, pull from an Eye-Fi. Other considerations: It's going to have to be battery operated, and the longer it can last on batteries, the better. Although a little solar panel isn't out of the question. The second question is location. Where to stick the little thing. I'm thinking perhaps if it were cable-tied to the back of the lot board, so it's reasonably out-of-sight to thieves, that might be a good spot facing the front of the house; on the other hand the construction crew might decide that right behind that is a good spot to leave a port-a-loo, blocking the view. Another one could potentially sit in the back corner of inside the fencing, if well hidden and kept out of the way where it's not going to get crushed, but only after initial earthmoving. The last problem is then clearing it with the site supervisor. Has anyone done this kind of thing before, and if so, has anyone got suggestions for how to make it happen? Or things to consider and look for if trying to sort it out? Building a Delta 21 at Craigieburn - http://homeofzero.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit: 26/02. Contract: 22/05. Settlement: 29/05. Site start: 18/10. Re: Construction timelapse 3May 31, 2012 3:40 pm Other options that have been suggested to me (from a more tech forum) involve using a Canon IXUS with the CHDK firmware - that would work, as I can easily put together a crude (ice-cream bucket) container to waterproof it and get cheap secondhand IXUS cameras off eBay, but my concern is that there's no way they would last days, even with the LCD disabled etc - they would most definitely need some kind of external solar power source. Building a Delta 21 at Craigieburn - http://homeofzero.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit: 26/02. Contract: 22/05. Settlement: 29/05. Site start: 18/10. Re: Construction timelapse 4May 31, 2012 6:23 pm I am watching this post closely I live 7 hours away from my build so it would be a great idea for us to have something like this installed..... Re: Construction timelapse 5May 31, 2012 11:24 pm yeah I have done it commercially for customers: http://bobpeters.com.au/ and they use stuff that would be valuable On the cheap, I reckon I can put something together. I am building a house shortly, and my Raspberry PI is about to arrive. If people wanted to buy something like this off me - what do you reckon it would be worth? I have scripts to take the photos and turn them into time lapse videos automatically already etc. Re: Construction timelapse 6Jun 01, 2012 12:17 am I have nowhere to mount a camera during the build as it would be stolen immediately: not to mention that after lockup, the outside won't change that much and you'll miss all the happening of the insides! I'm taking daily photos of our site (since I live relatively nearby) and take three outside shots from the same point at the same angle each day. Since the inside part is about to begin, I've chosen four windows around the house to take pics through once we're no longer able to get in. Then a film friend of mine is going to put it into a time lapse movie for, combined with various other photos and timeline moments. I can't wait! Kudos to those who are able to mount cameras at their site to do this for them; I am envious! We should have a thread at the end for all the completed time lapse videos so people can be inspired Re: Construction timelapse 7Jun 01, 2012 9:14 am yeah good point - the timelapse is really only effective from a single standpoint, and during slab poor/frame/roof/bricks you would want to take photos pretty often (less than hourly). then you wouldn't see much after that. Re: Construction timelapse 10Jun 01, 2012 9:54 am After lockup I'd see if there's some way we can sit it in the corner of the living area, but even then there wouldn't be much more to see happening as you're only really getting one room. Mind you, thoughtout that process they have to do plastering, put in alcatraves and skirting board, sand down the slab, paint the walls, lay down the timber laminate, put together the kitchen sinks, benchtops and cupboards, and the same with the pantry. Apparently the olds have spoken to some of the neighbours when they went to have a look at the block, but I'm not the kind of person to ask favours of people. And I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable having to go on to their property weekly to change the batteries and swap out the SD card. On that though, Officeworks - 2x4GB cards for $5. Bargain, so I've got spares for the project Building a Delta 21 at Craigieburn - http://homeofzero.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit: 26/02. Contract: 22/05. Settlement: 29/05. Site start: 18/10. Re: Construction timelapse 11Jun 01, 2012 12:03 pm d@n daveandally1 I have nowhere to mount a camera during the build as it would be stolen immediately: What about up a tree or perched on one of the neighbours places... (asking nicely of course). I'd love to, d@n, but there are literally no trees nearby, and our only neighbour is right next door so all you'd get is a shot of the roof every day! Our across-the-road neighbour blocks haven't started being built on yet. We're in a brand new development, and so far it's just us and the house right next door (and the very tall fence between us) I don't mind going there every day to take photos. See the slideshow in my signature below, they are from various stages of the build from the same vantage point each time. I have spent many hours trolling the time lapse house-build videos on YouTube, they are amazing! Re: Construction timelapse 12Jun 06, 2012 8:35 am Akashra, I have actually purchased a pair of Wingscapes Plantcams to put up at my build. One is mounted on the fence of the house across the street to get the front view. The other is mounted on my fence in one back corner to get the rear view. The two cameras plus delivery cost around AUD$120 from the US. Very cheap for what I wanted. I used them for the demolition back in December and now for the construction that started about 3 weeks ago. I have mine set to the highest resolution (about 1mb each photo) to take several photos between 6am and 6pm. With a 4gb SD card the camera would be OK for 2-3 weeks. Send me your email and I can forward a sample of photos and the video I have put together. I highly recommend it. You might want to discuss it with the builder - don't ask permission, just tell them you intend to do this. Check the privacy rules in your state first though. My understanding is that I have right to take photos on my property or from public property into my land. Just watch for junior apprentices (under 16) on site, I don't think you are allowed to take photos of minors. My builder is not overjoyed by the idea of cameras but I have convinced him that the detail level is quite low and they are not there for surveillance. I am actually surprised that some enterprising builder doesn't install time-lapse cameras himself to offer it as a value-add service to customers! Hillcrest build at Wavell Heights - Adenbrook https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=56663 Construction timelapse 13Jun 09, 2012 12:30 pm I can't seem to find anyone who has the plant am in stock, and certainly not at those prices, more like 120 each. Any hints? Building a Delta 21 at Craigieburn - http://homeofzero.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit: 26/02. Contract: 22/05. Settlement: 29/05. Site start: 18/10. Re: Construction timelapse 14Jun 09, 2012 12:35 pm Hillcrest I am actually surprised that some enterprising builder doesn't install time-lapse cameras himself to offer it as a value-add service to customers! customer service aside....it might help stop the amount of site theft that happens...or the cameras would be the first things to be knocked off Re: Construction timelapse 15Jun 15, 2012 10:34 am I just looked on ebay (what would we do without it?) for Plantcams - you're right, there aren't many on there. Seems they were old stock now replaced by the more expensive Birdcam which has more features and higher resolution. Still they are cheap cameras at $120 each. Worth doing I say, you can always sell them at the end to recoup costs. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-TIMELAPS ... 1c20c98dfb Hillcrest build at Wavell Heights - Adenbrook https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=56663 Can you give advice on how to get missing certificates needed for a form 21? 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