Camera Images

GeoNet captures images using cameras to observe changes at a particular site. This surveillance programme is currently used for volcano monitoring, but in the past was also used to observe the Christchurch rebuild.

VOLCANO MONITORING


GeoNet's volcano camera images are an important part of the surveillance programme as any changes to a volcano can be observed and compared over time. Our cameras typically produce an image every 10 minutes, though the frequency of image capture can vary from camera to camera depending on the communications bandwidth to the site. During a volcanic event we may change the frequency of capture.

To view the lastest volcano images on our website please go to the volcano camera page.

Access to images


Images are accessed differently depending on if they are the latest images or from the archive.

Latest Images

The latest images are available via a simple URL request, which returns either an image or a GeoJSON file. You can request data by all images, specific volcano or specific camera. You can also specify the image size.

These images are updated every time a new photograph arrives, typically every 10 minutes. When using these images beware of client-side caching to ensure that the latest image is displayed

Examples:

Camera_id and volcano_id can be found in the table below, or on the network map.

Single image request

By default the large image is returned to specify size prefix using t- for thumbnail, m- for medium.

The all GeoJSON is made up of an array of individual volcanoes, described as a feature collection of cameras at points

Individual volcano GeoJSON feeds can be fetched using the appropriate volcano_id

Individual camera GeoJSON feed containing the most recent timestamped images and thumbs is also available by using the camera_id

Available Volcano Cameras and Codes for Latest Images

Volcanic Centre volcano_id Camera View camera_id
Ruapehu ruapehu from North ruapehunorth
from South ruapehusouth
Ruapehu or Ngauruhoe either Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe ruapehungauruhoe
Ngauruhoe ngauruhoe Ngauruhoe ngauruhoe
Tongariro tongariro Tongariro tongariro
Te Maari Crater tongarirotemaaricrater
White Island whiteisland from crater floor whiteislandcraterfloor
from north rim whiteislandcraterrim
from Whakatane whakatane
Kermadec Islands kermadecislands Raoul Island raoulisland
Taranaki (Egmont) taranakiegmont Taranaki taranaki


Image Archive

An archive of volcano camera images is available via the following:

In December 2020, we made changes to camera site codes used in the image archive and we introduced view codes. A four-letter site code is used to reflect the location where a camera is situated. A two-digit numeric view code is used to track what a camera looks at, and any substantial and intentional changes to that view over time. At the same time as the site and view code changes were introduced, we started to use our cloud-based image archive to provide data for the Data site, which resulted in some changes to image filenames.

Camera and View Codes for Archive Images - Cameras and Views in Current Use

New Camera Code Camera Location View Code Camera View Start Date Old Camera Code
WHOH Whakatane Observatory Hill 01 White Island 2006-02-24T14:00:00Z WHWI
WICF White Island Crater Floor 01 White Island Main Crater 2009-10-28T00:45:02Z W, CVWF
WINR White Island North Rim 01 White Island Main Crater 2006-03-17T15:30:00Z WINR
WIWR White Island West Rim 01 White Island Active Crater 2013-12-10T00:00:00Z WIWR
DISC Discovery Lodge 01 Ruapehu 2020-07-28T02:20:00Z R
DISC Discovery Lodge 02 Ngauruhoe 2020-07-28T23:40:00Z N
KMTP Kaimanawa Tai Ping 01 Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe 2009-03-03T02:00:00Z K, CVTP
MTSR Mangateitei South Ruapehu 01 Ruapehu 2011-09-08T00:10:00Z MTSR
KAKA Kakaramea 02 Tongariro 2017-03-03T04:50:03Z P
TOKR Tongariro Karewarewa 01 Te Maari, Tongariro 2012-08-29T02:00:00Z TOTM
TEMO Taranaki Emergency Management Office 02 Taranaki 2012-04-03T00:15:00Z T
RIMK Raoul Island Moumoukai 01 Green Lake, Raoul Island 2009-05-18T00:00:02Z RIMM


Camera and View Codes for Archive Images - Cameras and Views No Longer in Use

New Camera Code Camera Location View Code Camera View Start Date End Date Old Camera Code
WHHB Whakatane Harbour 01 White Island 2001-05-21T13:00:10Z 2007-04-13T00:00:00Z A
WIFW White Island Factory Wall 01 White Island Main Crater 2001-10-12T12:00:00Z 2009-07-20T00:00:05Z W
WIFC White Island Factory 01 White Island Main Crater 2009-07-20T01:00:05Z 2009-10-27T21:00:05Z W
MNTA Mountain Air 01 Ruapehu 2000-11-14T13:00:10Z 2020-07-27T21:20:00Z R
MNTA Mountain Air 02 Ngauruhoe 2002-04-09T13:00:10Z 2020-07-27T21:20:00Z N
KAKA Kakaramea 01 Tongariro 2011-09-05T00:01:00Z 2017-03-03T04:40:03Z P
PIHA Pihanga 01 Tongariro 2015-05-28T00:01:00Z 2019-03-04T20:30:00Z TOPI
TEMO Taranaki Emergency Management Office 01 Taranaki 2002-09-18T13:00:10Z 2012-04-02T22:45:00Z T


Examples of Image Filenames on the Data Site

To specify an image of Taranaki from the camera at Taranaki Emergency Management Office taken at 0600 UTC on 22 October 2020. The site code for Taranaki Emergency Management Office is TEMO. For 22 October 2020, the view code for TEMO is 02. The Data archive uses the day of the year (Julian day) to specify the date. For 22 October 2020, the day of the year is 296. The day of the year can be determined for any date using readily available online tools. The image required is therefore: https://data.geonet.org.nz/camera/volcano/images/2020/TEMO/TEMO.02/2020.296/2020.296.0600.00.TEMO.02.jpg or s3://geonet-open-data/camera/volcano/images/2020/TEMO/TEMO.02/2020.296/2020.296.0600.00.TEMO.02.jpg