Start with the camera view
Share a wide photo of the ramp and a short clip from any existing camera. The view should make the direction of boat movement clear and cover the counting area without boats repeatedly disappearing behind vehicles, vegetation, or dock structures.
Check every launch lane. Review the view during busy periods, at different water levels, and with changing sun angles. Glare, shadows, and low light can affect whether movements are distinguishable. A daytime sample alone does not establish nighttime performance.
Inventory what is already on site
Record the camera model, mounting position, video access method, available power, and network connection. Note who manages the equipment and can authorize access. An existing camera may be usable, but model compatibility and the actual view both need checking.
For a new installation, agree who supplies and mounts equipment, provides power and connectivity, and handles maintenance. Confirm site permissions and any work needed before scheduling installation. There is no single camera or mounting height that fits every ramp.
Plan for live reporting and interruptions
Live counts depend on an operational camera, processing, and a data connection. Check connection reliability at the proposed camera position rather than assuming service elsewhere at the site will be sufficient.
Ask how the chosen setup handles disconnections, local recording, and recovery of missed periods. Establish expected update timing and how old data will be distinguished from current counts. Do not assume that footage or counts will be recoverable after an outage.
Keep the view focused on the counting task
Define the area needed to observe boat movements. Before installation, agree on footage access, retention, and the agency’s signage and privacy requirements. Boat counts do not require publishing a public camera feed; decide separately whether any imagery should be shared.
Agree on a practical acceptance check
Review the same sample periods manually and with the counting system. Include different traffic levels and conditions, and check launches and returns separately. Agree on useful performance and coverage requirements before treating the counts as an operational record.
Send Ark CV the site location, a photo or sample clip, the existing camera model if available, and the question your team wants answered. That gives us a concrete starting point for discussing a BoatSight setup and quote.