Camera Trap Placement: Comparing Logic-Driven Grids with Adaptive Algorithms
If you manage a camera trap study, you have felt the tension between coverage and catch rate. A perfectly spaced grid might miss the corridor that only gets traffic at 3 a.m. An algorithm that chases detections could overlook the rare visitor that passes once a year. This decision matters more than most people admit: placement error can introduce bias that no post-hoc model can fix. So who has to choose? Typically the field ecologist or wildlife manager planning a multi-season occupancy or density survey. The timeline often falls between project conception and site preparation—once the research question is set but before permits expire. If you're reading this because you're up against a grant deadline or field season start, you're not alone. Who Must Choose and By When The choice between a systematic grid and an adaptive algorithm lands on someone specific.