About SkyLedger

Evidence Integrity

Every photo submitted to SkyLedger is SHA-256 hashed in the user's browser before upload. The hash is stored alongside the photo. Anyone can independently verify that a photo has not been modified since submission by downloading the photo, generating its SHA-256 hash, and comparing it to the stored hash. This is the same standard used by the eyeWitness to Atrocities app, which has produced evidence accepted in international courts.

Structured Observations

Reports use a structured form that captures factual observations: what was seen, when, where, and how many aircraft. We specifically avoid fields that ask for conclusions or interpretations. The observation type field (persistent trail, spray pattern, grid pattern, etc.) describes what was visually observed, not what is assumed about intent.

Null Reports

Citizens can submit "null reports" — observations that nothing unusual was seen. This is critically important for scientific credibility. It establishes baseline data and prevents the dataset from being biased toward only unusual activity.

Verification Levels

Each report carries a verification level:

• Level 1 — Unverified: Single citizen observation, no corroboration.
• Level 2 — Corroborated: Multiple independent observations of the same event from different locations.
• Level 3 — Flight-Matched: Observation correlated with a specific aircraft via ADS-B data and FAA registry.
• Level 4 — Expert Verified: Reviewed by a qualified professional (atmospheric scientist, pilot, etc.).

Flight Correlation

When a citizen submits an observation with GPS coordinates and a timestamp, SkyLedger queries ADS-B flight data for aircraft that were in the vicinity at that time. Matched aircraft are cross-referenced with the FAA registry to identify the owner, and with NOAA reports to determine if the operator has filed required weather modification activity reports.