ZIP Classifier is a software tool that we have developed to make it easier and more efficient to manually review trail camera footage and record detections of target species.

It does this by:

  • Enabling a reviewer to quickly record detections using keystrokes associated with target species or other items of interest.

  • Automatically creating a metadata document with a summary of the information associated with each image (e.g. time, date, location).

  • Automatically sorting footage into folders for each keystroke category (for easy reference at a later date).

We have made ZIP Classifier freely available for others to use, as a download from this web page.

Please note: ZIP Classifier was developed for use with Microsoft Windows-based operating systems. It is not compatible with macOS, Linux or Android, and will not work on Chromebooks.

Last updated 31 January 2023

Before you begin, you will need:

  • ZIP Classifier Instructions, which are available HERE. These can be printed, if you prefer a paper version - see the print icon at the bottom of each section.

  • A computer. We recommend using two screens/displays. If you are using a computer with a small screen, such as a laptop, you may need to adjust the display resolution (refer to 1.6 Optimising the display in the instructions).

  • Trail camera images for classification.