Field Survey Protocols & Apps
TERN provides resources and tools for the research community including nationally consistent field methods and innovative applications for data collection, analysis and presentation in ways that complement existing approaches.
Remote Sensing Cal/Val Handbook
TERN’s Effective Field Calibration and Validation Practices handbook provides detailed information for calibrating and validating remote sensing derived products in a consistent manner to ensure they can be used for science and management applications. The handbook collates effective calibration and validation practices that link closely with internationally agreed protocols, such as those set by the Committee on Earth Observations (CEOS) Working Group on Cal/Val.
Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual
The TERN AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual provides a simple agreed method for anyone undertaking research or monitoring in the rangelands. The manual divides the method into a series of modules and respective collection protocols that can be undertaken as individual investigations or in combination with others. There is also an accompanying app, currently available for Android operating systems, that allows users to enter data in the field and then upload this to a server as soon as a network connection is available.
Forests Survey Protocols Manual
The TERN AusPlots Forests Survey Protocols Manual provides a simple agreed method for anyone undertaking research or monitoring in the forests. The manual details the methodology for (a) the installation of plot infrastructure, (b) the description of the site and (c) the core measurements that form the minimum dataset for a TERN Ecosystem Surveillance plot.
Photopoints
TERN has developed a procedure for taking photopoints that has been applied at all TERN Ecosystem Surveillance sites. The method allows their use as traditional photopoints and enables basal area to be extracted from the photography of each site. Seamless site panoramas are also available, along with point cloud data (similar to that used by Lidar).
Chapter four of the TERN AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual details the procedure for collecting photopoints.
Field Survey App
TERN has developed an Android app to assist with data collection in the field. The app makes data collection quicker, removes time entering data at a later date along with associated errors, and uploads data to our server, making the data collection process streamlined.
For more information please contact TERN Ecosystem Surveillance
