Training Session 5

– Almost There!

Topics to cover: Soils – Plot DescriptionSoils – Characterisation to 1m+Soils – 9 x 30 cm samplesSoils – Bulk densitySoils – Sample collectionLeaf Area Index Meter (LAI)SLATS integrationThe App (FDCA)What’s in store for the weekSummary of the Day

MethodSoils: Plot Description

Plot Description

• Plot name

• Plot location – SW corner marker

• Erosion

• Micro relief

• Drainage

• Disturbance

• Surface condition

• Other optional measures if a soil scientist available – covered in the field section

¢¢

¢

¢¢

¢ ¢¢ ¢

¢ Soil core to 30cm

1 m core/pitoutside, but adjacent to quadrat

5 samples in the primary soil individual (25 x 25m quadrat in SW corner)

4 other samples throughout the bigger quadrat

MethodSoils:

Characterisation to 1 m

Two Options• Pit or auger

• Advantages and disadvantages to both

• Pit can see profile

• Auger easier – If no experienced soil scientist there is little benefit from a pit

• Pit can see layers

Either way you will lay out your soil samples for characterisation

Record – why stoppedType of observationTake a photo of the pit if dugRecord depthsIdentify horizonsSamples discussed later

Photo Colour chart Horizon identification Soil texturing

• Optional collections available if a soil scientist present –Detailed in the manual

• At least 500 gms collected in a plastic bag for each 10 cm increment through the profile (eg. 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 etc.

• If experienced can identify horizons and collect within these

• Sample increased if significant amount of coarse fragments

MethodSoils: Observations (9 x 30cm samples)

• 9 samples collected throughout the quadrat

• 5 in the primary soil individual

• 4 throughout the rest of the quadrat

• In both cases aim to sample from the variety of cover / terrain options available.

• Samples collected, bagged and labelled

• At least 500 gms from 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30cm unless stopped

• GPS each location

• 3 samples x 9 locations per site should be placed in a larger bag and labelled for that site

Dig shallow pits for the 9 samples

Take samples at 10 cm increments

Store samples in bags

MethodSoils: Bulk Density Measures

• Bulk density essential to convert any soil measures to volume

• Precision required for accuracy

• Start by clearing veg from a small area

• Done at 3 depths

1. Remove the plastic caps from a stainless steel ring

2. Place the tanner sampler on flat ground – Push the feet in gently until the whole bottom surface is flush with the ground

3. Load the stainless steel ring

4. Place the top of the sampler in the top of the tube to rest on the stainless steel ring

5. Hit this with a rubber mallet until it is flush with the top of the device

6. Remove all of the device leaving the ring in the ground.

Either...

• trim around the ring enough to place a cap on it

Insert a trowel well below the cylinder and remove it with excess soil - none of the soil in the cylinder can be disturbed

Or....

• Dig around the cylinder carefully

• Place the trowel a little under the cylinder and prise it out of the soil with excess

• The soil in the ring cannot be disturbed

Carefully trim excess soil from the edge of the cylinder – this surface must be flush – this can take some time to do well

Once one surface is complete, cap that end, turn the cylinder over and repeat for the other side

Tape the two caps and the ring together well

Clearly label and transport to a drying oven

MethodSoils: Sample Collection

At the end of the site you should have....

• 1 large calico bag containing 9 snaplock bags containing 9 calico bags with silica for metagenomic samples

• 1 large plastic bag with 9 medium calico bags each containing x 3 x 500 gms snaplock bags with soil samples (from 9 distributed sites)

• 1 large plastic bag with 10 x 500gms snaplockbag soil samples from the pit or core

• 1 medium calico bad with 3 x bulk density rings in it

• ALL CLEARLY LABELED!

MethodUsing the LAI

LAI Measurements

• AusCover desire to validate LAI and FPC products

• FPC validated by point intercept

• LAI can be validated by Hemispherical Photography or LAI2200

• Hemispherical Photography- Potentially more accurate

- Harder to set up in the field

- Lowest height about 40-50 cm above ground level

- Harder to process in the office – more work

- Harder to get high number of samples

- Larger volume of data

LAI 2200– Operates closer to the ground – more appropriate for

Rangelands

– Easy to take a high number of samples

– Instant processing – no work later

– Easy to use for non experts to use in the field

– Much quicker to use

LAI 2200 seen as best outcome considering the needs of both AusCover (data) and AusPlots (speed and

ease of use)

LAI 2200

• Need to avoid direct sunlight

– diffuse light

– constant cloud

– dawn or dusk

• Need above/clear sky reference fairly regularly (issue in really high canopy areas)

• Recent field trip collected data to inform of optimal sampling strategy

• Not operationally useful for chenopods

– (re: number of samples)

The device will come pre-set up – There will be no need to connect the “wand” to the console.You will only need to use the “wand”.Remove it from the Pelican case. The manual will be in the case but we ask that you follow the AusPlots manual in the first instance, and then attempt calling AusPlots staff before you use the manual or change any settings. The device is significantly more complex than our application.

We have simplified its operation to make it easier to use in the field.

The Sensor head and fitting the lens cover

Taking an “above” Reference – Note the overcast sky

The wand set up for logging points and an above reference

Before

During

After

Method SLATS/LandcoverIntegration

S1

NEN5N4N3N2N1NW

W5

W4

W3

W2

W1

SW S2 S3 S4 S5 SE

E1

E2

E3

E4

E5

The use of AusPlots data for remote sensing validation

• Method designed to provide RS compatible data

• Data from 1000 point intercepts can be easily be converted to compatible form.

• Well defined, homogeneous 1ha square that is aligned to the grid assists with validation activities.

• Field data can be used to determine vegetation mapping communities, and the plot areas used for supervised classification techniques.

• LAI information fed back to AusCover to validate their RS products.

The use of AusPlots data for remote sensing validation

• Collaboration with AusCover regarding field methods

– will use our data to validate many of their products

– LAI Meter, Cover Measures etc

– potential for spectrometer/operator to join in some of our field trips – “Tag along tour” concept

• Data particularly useful for validating cover products....

Comparison with the SLATS star Transects

Collected for different purposes

SLATS

– for RS validation of land cover products

– Slats method is well refined for that purpose

AusPlots

– to provide data to inform a wide range of ecological research along with providing data for a wide range of remote sensing purposes

– AusPlots well designed for maximum widespread utility of data

– Can be summarised into SLATS form – now automated

1

05/11/13, Andrew Tokmakoff

AusPlots System ArchitectureA Technical Overview

2

Objectives

✤ To understand:

✤ the AusPlots system architecture and its key functions.

✤ the AusPlots Field App’s purpose.

✤ how AusPlots data is collected and handled.

✤ the technical path we have taken.

SystemArchitecture

36

cr

on

Internet

Data

Upload

Apache

/PHPField App

Web-based Admin Interface

(Cloud) SWARM Server

5

Field App: what is it, and who is it for?

✤ It’s an (Android) mobile application that electronically collects field data according to the AusPlots data collection specification.

✤ Who wants it? Anyone (i.e. ecological scientists and assistants) who:

✤ collects, manages and shares AusPlots field data

✤ wants to minimise data entry errors and transcription effort

✤ wants the data to be automatically archived for easy use later on.

Field App: Plot Creation

38

Field App: Site Description

39

Field App: Veg. Vouchering

40

Field App: Point Intercept

41

Field App: Basal Wedge

42

Field App: Structural Summary

43

Field App: Plot Upload

44

Data Management: Curation

48

Field App

Web-based Admin Interface

cron

REST/

JSON

Apach

e/PHP

(Cloud) SWARM Server

✤ Apache/PHP web “site”provides a User Interfacefor data curation.

✤ Allows “cleaning” of data and entry of new items such as herbarium determinations.

✤ SWARM data is exported to external services

✤ Soils 2 Satellites offers visualisation

✤ (e.g. for land managers, consultants)

✤ aekos offers raw data access,data enrichment and search

✤ (e.g. for ecological scientists)

Publishing: 3rd parties

49

Field App

cron

REST/

JSON

(Cloud) SWARM Server

Summary

✤ The AusPlots Field Data Collection App (FDCA) has been used to collect field data from over 100 (of 300) plots

✤ It has been developed iteratively, based upon experience from field use

✤ The AusPlots solution can be readily applied toany sites which are sampled using the Protocols

✤ ‘Clean’ data is created by tablet

✤ Data is uploaded from tablet to cloud-based server (SWARM)

✤ SWARM provides facilities for data handling, curation and preservation

50

How to get Further Infohttp://www.tern.org.au/AusPlots-pg26979.html

Product / Service

Description For more information

Accepted method

The AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual provides a simple agreed method for anyone undertaking research or monitoring in the rangelands. Developed in collaboration with all of the rangelands' jurisdiction the method is the first nationally agreed and consistent method for rangelands monitoring. It is freely available, and is supported by a field app that streamlines data entry and download processes. In 2014 AusPlots will release further protocols so keep an eye on this website for updates.The AusPlots Forests Survey Protocols Manual outlines the field methodology for AusPlots Forests. The background and rationale of the project and details of bioregional stratification and site selection will be outlined in a separate document. This version of the manual (v1.0) 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 AusPlots Forests plots. This draft edition is provided as an online resource and material from the document or its attachments should not be republished without written consent. If you have any feedback on this draft version please contact Dr Sam Wood.

Click here to view or download the AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual

Click here to view or download the AusPlots Forests Survey Protocols Manual

DataAusPlots data is available via TERN's Soils to Satellites and AEKOS Data Portal. As at March 2014 data from approximately 130 sites is available, with more being added regularly as herbarium identifications are received. The program has collect >430 plots to date.

AusPlots site locations can be downloaded here (.kml file)Soils to SatellitesAEKOS Data PortalContact Andrew Tokmakoff

Samples

Soil and plant samples collected by AusPlots are contributed to the CSIRO National Soil Archive and regional herbaria, with some samples stored at the AusPlots facility. These samples are available for further use by researchers. Traditional soil samples, soil metagenomic samples, vegetation voucher samples and vegetation genetic and isotope samples may all be available for use.

For more information on applying to access and use these samples, please contact Ian Fox

• PPT on NERP and the future of the AusPlots program

• Refer to Poster

PracticalWhat is in store for the rest of the week?

Practical components conducted in three groups

spend a day in each group

The Dirt GroupWith Rick and Christina• all soils components

The Veg GroupEmrys and Finn

• all vouchering and veg sampling• structural summary• point intercept• all general site info

The Tech GroupWith Ben + Andrew and Sally

• GPS• App (FDCA)• photo-points• basal wedge• LAI• point intercept

Structure of each Day

7:00 am Breakfast

7:20 am Summary of day

8:00 am Leave homestead

8:30 am Arrive at field sites

10:30 am Morning tea

11:00 am Field training

12:30 am Lunch on site

1:15 pm Field training

3:00 pm Arvo tea

3:30 pm Field training

5:30 pm Return to Homestead

6:00 pm Free time

7:00 pm Dinner

7:45 pm After dinner presentation / discussion

8:00 pm + Free time/ informal discussions on method

GroupsGroup A Group B Group C

Ashleigh Burke Danielle Allen Jason Boxall

Wendy Thompson Jane Bradley Wendy Warren

Katy Wilkins Pete Lyon Darren Hocking

Jeremiah Msigwa Henrique Furstenau Togashi Ernest Dunwoody

Jock Duncan Helene Aubault Laurie Tait

Mark Trower Sarah Thorne Camilla Osborn

Karen Rusten Matt Humphrey Lance Maddock

Erika Lawley

Group A Group B Group C

Ashleigh, Wendy T, Katy, Jeremiah, Jock, Mark,

Karen, Erika (8)

Danielle, Jane, Pete, Henrique, Helene, Sarah,

Matt (7)

Jason, Wendy W, Darren, Ernest, Laurie,

Camilla, Lance (7)

Monday

Veg Dirt Tech

@ Site 1 @ Site 2 @ Site 3

Tuesday

Tech Veg Dirt

@ Site 2 @ Site 3 @ Site 1

Wednesday

Dirt Tech Veg

@ Site 3 @ Site 1 @ Site 2

Today – 5 Theory Sessions

Session 1 ContextSession 2 Stratification, data uses, manual, permissionsSession 3 Plot layout, site info, point intercept, basal wedge, structural

summarySession 4 Vouchering, fauna, photo-pointsSession 5 Soils, LAI, Slats, the app

Summary