Deep Lake Explorer

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why do you need the public to review your videos?
  Even experts don't always agree on what they see in underwater video. Many challenges of underwater video collection make the videos hard to interpret. By having many volunteers watch each video, we increase the accuracy of how the videos are interpreted. If volunteers disagree on the content in the video, we learn that the video needs additional review, and may not be suited for our use. If many volunteers agree on the content, then we are more confident in using the result. Having multiple professional experts watch the videos is time consuming and cost-prohibitive. Volunteers (YOU!) make it possible for us to interpret our underwater videos and improve our understanding of the Great Lakes!

• I just can't decide. Why isn't there an "I don't know" option?
  We need you to make your best guess. Human beings are really good at pattern recognition, so your first guess is likely the best answer. Other people will review the same video, so it's okay if you make mistakes. Having several people review the same video and offer their best guesses for the classification is how we figure out not only what's happening in the video, but if the video meets our quality requirements. For more information, check out this Snapshot Serengeti blog post.

• I have been doing a lot of classifications. How do I know when I'm done?
  The Deep Lake Explorer homepage has a status bar showing the percent completion for the current dataset. We have hundreds and hundreds of video clips to analyze, so you may not see that bar move from your own classification alone. Each subject (video or set of still images) needs to be reviewed by 7 - 15 people, so every classification you make helps us get closer. Do as many classifications as you can. We appreciate your help!

• The videos have an orange box labeled FINISHED! or ALREADY SEEN! What does that mean?
  If you have already watched a video, an orange banner will appear in the upper left corner. This means that you have reviewed all the remaining videos needing review. You do not need to re-analyze these videos. This probably means the project is nearing completion. Check back soon for updates on the results from your analyses!

• What should I do if I see something really unique/cool/weird in a video or image?
  Click the Talk button and leave a comment about what you saw. This helps flag the subject for researchers. This is a great way to go above and beyond. You can flag weird observations, ask questions about the video, or note excellent examples of fish, mussels, substrate, or vegetation. At the last step in your classification, just click Done & Talk:

• What if I see something I want to know more about, like a fish or habitat type?
  You can also click on the Talk button to ask questions about what you observed in the videos. Moderators read your comments and can answer your questions about the ecosystems in the videos and images.

• Where were the videos were collected?
  The videos on Deep Lake Explorer were collected in Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, or the Niagara River.

  • The Lake Huron videos were collected from the EPA's R/V Lake Explorer II as part of 2017 Lake Huron Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI).
  • The Lake Ontario videos were collected from the EPA's R/V Lake Guardian as part of the 2018 Lake Ontario CSMI.
  • The Niagara videos were collected by EPA as part of a National Coastal Condition Assessment connecting channels pilot study in 2018 from small boats.

If your question is not answered here, click the Talk button above to see if others had the same question, or ask it yourself.