The "Vector-Point" Audit (Bio-Accountability)
Original Mission created by RENSIC.
Submit Your Research MissionMission Overview: Bio-Accountability
The "Vector-Point" Audit is designed to map the overlap between human living spaces and disease-carrying rodent populations. By capturing "ultrasonic vocalizations" (USVs) and "scuttle patterns" overnight, researchers can calculate a highly accurate Rodent Density Score for specific neighborhoods.
The Truth: When this Rodent Density Score is overlaid with local climate data, the platform can predict when a "Tick Explosion" is coming to a specific zip code 2–3 months before it actually happens. This is crucial for preventing tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.
The Goal: Mapping the overlap between human living spaces and disease-carrying rodent populations to predict "Hot Zones" for tick-borne illnesses.
The Task: Place your phone in a "transition zone" (garage, crawlspace, or kitchen corner) for 6 hours overnight.
The Tech: Use a High-Gain Audio Recorder to capture ultrasonic vocalizations and movement patterns.
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.orgPhyphox
An open-source physics application developed by RWTH Aachen University that utilizes your smartphone's sensors for data collection.
phyphox.orgHigh-Gain Audio Recorder
An audio recording app capable of running in the background for extended periods (6+ hours) to capture high-frequency sounds and scuttle patterns.
Open Source Forensic Tools (Digital & Network Analysis):
Audacity
An open-source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing. Essential for analyzing the acoustic signatures of rodent scuttling and high-frequency sounds captured during the mission.
audacityteam.orgQGIS
A free and open-source geographic information system (GIS) application. Required for visualizing and analyzing the GPS-tagged heat map of "Vector Points" and density zones.
qgis.orgWhen you download the apps, this is what you need to do before you use them:
- Audio Recorder: Ensure microphone permissions are granted and battery optimization is disabled so it can record for 6 hours.
- ProofMode: Ensure it is running in the background to sign your audio files and location data.
For additional operational resources, consult the Tools and Testing, Ethical Testing Guide, Verification Guide, and Smart Contracts pages.
The "Bio-Acoustic Vector Tracking" Methodology
Directive VP-01: Vector-Point Audit
To accurately map the rodent density and correlate it with tick-borne illness risk, we must capture a clean, 6-hour acoustic profile of a transition zone.
Phase 1: Location & Baseline Setup
Identify a "transition zone" in or near your home. This could be a garage, a crawlspace, a basement, or a kitchen corner. Ensure the phone is plugged in or fully charged to survive a 6-hour recording.
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, open your Audio Recorder App: Set it to high sensitivity/gain and prepare to record.
Phase 2: The 6-Hour Reading
This phase captures the core acoustic data mapping the rodent activity.
- The Action: Place your phone in the transition zone overnight. Start the audio recorder and let it run for at least 6 hours.
- The Capture: Save the resulting audio file.
- The Data Output: A ProofMode-verified audio file representing the acoustic profile of that specific location, capturing USVs and scuttle patterns.
Milestones
This mission is structured in three progressive milestones to map the bio-acoustic ecosystem across various environments.
Milestone 1: Initial Data Collection
$150Goal: Gather the first wave of baseline acoustic profiles.
- Reward the first 30 users for submitting verified 6-hour audio recordings.
Milestone 2: Rodent Density & Tick Prediction Modeling
$600Goal: Compile the data to calculate Rodent Density Scores.
- Fund data scientists to analyze the audio for USVs, calculate density scores, and overlay local climate data to predict tick explosions.
Milestone 3: Municipal Bio-Accountability Report
$1200Goal: Publish findings to local health departments and the public.
- Draft and distribute a formal report to force municipalities to acknowledge where public sanitation or ecosystem imbalance is creating a health crisis.
Mission Downloads
The following files are pre-configured specifically for The "Vector-Point" Audit. Citizen Researchers can use these templates to compile legally verifiable, corroborating evidence for submission to environmental authorities or research institutions.
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 Audio Recording (signed by ProofMode) for full review, validation, and payment.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Follow this step-by-step checklist to ensure your overnight audio recordings are accurate and forensically valid.
1 Preparation & App Setup
- Location Selection: Identify a "transition zone" where rodents might enter your living space (e.g., a garage, crawlspace, basement corner, or near an exterior door).
- Power Supply: Ensure your phone is fully charged or plugged into a power source, as it will be recording for 6 hours.
- App Readiness: Ensure ProofMode and a High-Gain Audio Recorder app are installed and functioning.
2 The Overnight Recording
- Positioning: Place your phone on a stable surface in the chosen transition zone. Ensure the microphone is not obstructed.
- Timing: Start the recording right before you go to bed (e.g., 11:00 PM).
- Recording: Open your High-Gain Audio Recorder app and start recording. Let it run continuously for at least 6 hours overnight.
3 Data Retrieval
- Completion: In the morning, stop the recording and save the audio file.
- ProofMode: Ensure ProofMode was running and captured the necessary metadata for the recording period.
4 Verification & Submission
- Metadata: Fill out the provided Evidence Metadata JSON file with your specific mission details (location description, start/end times).
- Upload: Upload the ProofMode zip file (containing the audio recording) and the completed JSON metadata file to the RENSIC portal.
Mission Budget Breakdown
Total Funding Necessary: $150
The money will be used for the Rewards. Payout $5 for a verified 6-hour audio recording (total 30 tasks) via PayPal.
Mission Timeline
Mission Created
The "Vector-Point" Audit initialized. Initial funding round opened.
Data Collection Phase
Users capture 6-hour audio recordings in transition zones.
Bio-Acoustic Analysis
Data is aggregated to create the Rodent Density Map and predict tick explosions.
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.