Quick Start Guide¶

Get your first beehive photo analyzed in under 5 minutes! This guide walks you through the essential steps to start using the Beehive Photo Metadata Tracker.

Step 1: Launch the Application¶

Open your web browser and navigate to:

http://localhost:8501

You should see the login screen. For the quickstart, you can use the default credentials or proceed if authentication is disabled in your configuration.

Step 2: First Photo Upload¶

Upload Your Photo¶

1. Navigate to Dashboard: Click on "Dashboard" in the sidebar (should be the default page)

2. Choose Your Photo: Click the "Browse files" button or drag and drop a beehive photo

3. Supported Formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, WEBP

What Happens Next¶

Once uploaded, the application automatically:

graph LR
    A[Photo Upload] --> B[EXIF Extraction]
    B --> C[Color Analysis]
    C --> D[Weather Lookup]
    D --> E[AI Analysis]
    E --> F[Display Results]

    style A fill:#f9f
    style F fill:#9f9

Step 3: Explore Your Results¶

Metadata Section¶

You'll immediately see extracted information:

• 📅 Date & Time: When the photo was taken
• 📍 Location: GPS coordinates (if available)
• 📷 Camera Info: Make, model, and settings
• 🎨 Color Palette: Dominant colors extracted from the image

AI Analysis Results¶

If Google Vision API is configured:

• 🐝 Bee Detection: Number and location of detected bees
• 🍯 Honeycomb Analysis: Quality indicators and patterns
• 📝 Text Recognition: Any visible labels or markings

Weather Context¶

Environmental data for the photo date/location:

• 🌡️ Temperature: High and low temperatures
• 💧 Humidity: Atmospheric moisture levels
• ☔ Precipitation: Rain or weather conditions

Step 4: Add Your Observations¶

Enhance the automated analysis with your expert knowledge:

1. Scroll to Annotations: Find the "Add Your Notes" section

2. Hive Assessment: Rate the overall hive condition

3. Observations: Add specific notes about:

4. Queen presence or absence
5. Brood patterns observed
6. Honey stores levels

7. Any concerning indicators

8. Tags: Add relevant tags like "inspection", "treatment", "harvest"

Step 5: Save Your Data¶

Don't lose your analysis! Save the complete inspection record:

1. Click "Save Inspection": Stores all data locally

2. Choose Export Format:

3. JSON for complete structured data

4. CSV for spreadsheet analysis

5. Verify Save: Check the success message

Step 6: Explore Timeline View¶

See your inspection in context:

1. Navigate to Timeline: Click "Timeline" in the sidebar

2. Interactive Chart: Explore your inspection history

3. Filter Options:

4. Date ranges
5. Hive locations

6. Weather conditions

7. Pattern Recognition: Look for seasonal trends and patterns

Quick Tips for Success¶

Troubleshooting Common Issues¶

Photo Won't Upload¶

• Check file size: Must be under 10MB
• Verify format: Use JPEG, PNG, or other supported formats
• Browser issues: Try refreshing the page or using a different browser

Missing GPS/Weather Data¶

• No GPS coordinates: Weather lookup requires location data
• Camera settings: Enable location services on your camera/phone
• Manual entry: You can manually enter coordinates if needed

AI Analysis Not Working¶

• Check credentials: Verify Google Cloud Vision API setup
• Internet connection: API calls require active internet
• Image quality: Low-quality images may not process well

Slow Performance¶

• Large files: Resize images before upload for faster processing
• Internet speed: Weather and AI analysis require good connectivity
• Browser memory: Close other tabs if the browser becomes slow

What's Next?¶

Now that you've successfully analyzed your first photo:

🔍 Explore More Features¶

• Try the Calendar View for date-based organization
• Check out the Gallery View for browsing all photos

📊 Analyze Your Data¶

• Learn about data export options
• Understand metadata analysis in detail

⚙️ Customize Your Setup¶

• Configure advanced settings
• Set up automated workflows

Example Workflow¶

Here's a typical inspection workflow using the application:

flowchart TB
    START([Start Inspection]) --> PREP[Prepare Camera]
    PREP --> PHOTOS[Take Hive Photos]
    PHOTOS --> UPLOAD[Upload to Tracker]
    UPLOAD --> REVIEW[Review Analysis]
    REVIEW --> NOTES[Add Notes & Assessment]
    NOTES --> SAVE[Save Inspection Record]
    SAVE --> TIMELINE[Check Timeline View]
    TIMELINE --> EXPORT[Export Data if Needed]
    EXPORT --> END([Complete])

    style START fill:#e8f5e8
    style END fill:#f5e8e8
    style UPLOAD fill:#fff3e0
    style REVIEW fill:#e3f2fd

This workflow ensures you capture maximum value from each inspection while building a comprehensive historical record.

Congratulations! 🎉 You've successfully completed your first beehive photo analysis. The more you use the application, the richer your dataset becomes and the more insights you'll discover about your hive management practices.

Ready to dive deeper? Explore the complete User Guide for advanced features and techniques.