The "Green-Shield" Accuracy Audit (Environmental Truth)
Original Mission created by RENSIC.
Submit Your Research MissionMission Overview: Environmental Truth
The Cause: We are challenging the accuracy of satellite-based "Vegetation Indexes" (like NDVI) by providing undeniable, on-the-ground proof of plant health and species diversity.
The Mission: Urban planners, developers, and corporations frequently use satellite imagery to claim a city or project is "greening" and effectively sequestering carbon. However, satellites orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth can be easily fooled. Artificial turf, painted grass, or even severely diseased and dying trees can appear as healthy green pixels from space, leading to inflated environmental claims.
The Tech: We are utilizing decentralized, on-the-ground visual data to capture the specific Light Reflection Signature of urban flora. The way sunlight bounces off the micro-structures of leaves reveals the true health, hydration, and chlorophyll content of the plant. By analyzing these reflections in a continuous video, decentralized researchers can verify if the plants are actually sequestering carbon or if they are diseased/dying.
The Goal: To build a ground-truth database that holds satellite data accountable, ensuring that "green" claims match ecological reality.
The Task: Find a "Green Space" (such as a public park, rooftop garden, or street tree). Use your smartphone's Camera to take a continuous 5-second video while slowly circling a specific plant or tree.
Mandatory Tools First
In order to participate in Missions, you will need at least one of these two apps for all missions. Other specialized tools may be required by the Mission:
ProofMode
A lightweight app that turns your phone into a secure evidence-gathering device by automatically adding cryptographic signatures and metadata.
proofmode.orgOpen Source Forensic Tools (Digital & Network Analysis):
ImageJ
A public domain Java image processing program. Essential for analyzing the light reflection signatures and colorimetric data of the plant life captured during the mission.
imagej.netQGIS
A free and open-source geographic information system (GIS) application. Required for visualizing and analyzing the GPS-tagged heat map of environmental truth zones.
qgis.orgWhen you download the app, this is what you need to do before you use it:
- ProofMode: Ensure it is running in the background to cryptographically sign your video and location data.
For additional operational resources, consult the Tools and Testing, Ethical Testing Guide, Verification Guide, and Smart Contracts pages.
The "Light Reflection Signature" Methodology
Directive GS-01: Green-Shield Audit
To accurately analyze the health of the plant, we must capture a dynamic light reflection profile. Healthy leaves with high water and chlorophyll content reflect light differently than dry, diseased leaves or artificial materials. A moving video allows our analysts to observe specular highlights and diffuse reflections across the leaf surface.
Phase 1: Setup & Location
Locate a designated "Green Space" within your city. This could be a public park, a rooftop garden, or a street tree that is visible on satellite maps. Ensure you have adequate natural sunlight for the best reflection data.
Critical App Setup Requirements
To create verifiable evidence, configure your data collection apps in this specific order:
- First, set up ProofMode: Ensure it is running in the background to cryptographically sign all media captured during the session.
- Next, prepare your Camera: Open your native camera app and switch to Video mode. Ensure the lens is clean.
Phase 2: The Reflection Capture
This phase captures the core optical data mapping the plant's true health.
- The Action: Focus your camera on a specific plant, cluster of leaves, or patch of grass.
- The Capture: Start recording and slowly circle the plant for exactly 5 seconds. Keep the plant in focus. This movement captures how the sunlight reflects off the micro-structures of the leaves from multiple angles.
- The Data Output: A ProofMode-verified 5-second video file containing the dynamic light reflection signature of the target flora.
Milestones
This mission is structured in three progressive milestones to map and expose discrepancies in environmental reporting.
Milestone 1: Initial Data Collection
$150Goal: Gather the first wave of baseline ground-truth videos.
- Reward the first 30 users for submitting verified 5-second videos of urban green spaces.
Milestone 2: Spectral Health Analysis
$600Goal: Analyze the video frames to build a true health index.
- Fund data scientists to extract light reflection signatures and classify the true health and carbon sequestration potential of the recorded plants.
Milestone 3: Environmental Truth Report
$1200Goal: Publish findings contrasting satellite claims with ground reality.
- Draft and distribute a formal report to environmental watchdogs and municipal planners, highlighting specific areas of "greenwashing."
Mission Downloads
The following files are pre-configured specifically for The "Green-Shield" Accuracy Audit. Citizen Researchers can use these templates to compile legally verifiable, corroborating evidence.
Submission Requirements
Citizen Researchers are required to submit these two files (completely filled out; the .json is pre-filled with Mission-specific metadata) alongside the raw evidence Video Data (signed by ProofMode) for full review, validation, and payment.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Phase 1: Preparation & Equipment
- Smartphone: Ensure your smartphone camera is clean and the battery is sufficiently charged.
- Location Selection: Identify an urban green space (park, street tree, rooftop garden) that you intend to scan.
- Lighting Conditions: Plan to conduct the scan during daylight hours, preferably when the sun is shining directly on the plant, to capture the best light reflection signature.
Phase 2: Data Collection (The Scan)
- Positioning: Stand approximately 2-3 feet away from the target plant or tree.
- Camera Settings: Open your smartphone's camera app and select the video recording mode. Ensure the flash is turned off.
- Recording: Start recording. Slowly and steadily pan the camera around the plant for exactly 5 seconds.
- Focus: Keep the plant in focus and try to capture the sunlight reflecting off the leaves from different angles during the 5-second pan.
- Completion: Stop recording after 5 seconds. Review the video to ensure it is clear and the light reflection is visible.
Phase 3: Data Submission
- Upload: Navigate to the "Activity" tab on this mission page.
- Submission: Use the "Submit Data" button to upload your 5-second video file.
- Verification: Wait for the spectral analysis to verify the plant's health and confirm your submission.
Mission Budget Breakdown
Total Funding Necessary: $150
The money will be used for the Rewards. Payout $5 for a verified 5-second video scan (total 30 tasks) via PayPal.
Mission Timeline
Mission Created
The "Green-Shield" Accuracy Audit initialized. Initial funding round opened.
Data Collection Phase
Users capture video reflection signatures of urban green spaces.
Spectral Analysis
Data is aggregated to verify plant health and expose environmental greenwashing.
Activity Log
Mission started. Awaiting first submissions.
Audit Results
Results will be populated as verified data is collected.
How do you want to participate?
This is a Live Mission and needs 30 people to do a quick test (takes a few minutes to setup; see Overview and Protocol tabs). We'll pay $5 via PayPal - no catch - to the first 30 people who send their results to our email info@rensic.com.
Minimum contribution: $10.00
This mission is currently in manual funding phase. All contributions are tracked publicly. Full platform automation launching Q3 2026.
NOTE: All transactions are securely processed and tracked for Escrow services.
Milestone 1 is Fully Funded! Any new contributions will be applied directly toward the next Milestone.