This dataset is a collection of drone lidar data from plots across Australia (AusPlots, SuperSites, Cal/Val sites to be established in the future). The aim of these drone surveys is to capture vegetation structure. The standardised data collection and data processing protocols developed in 2022 are based on the DJI Matrice 300 (M300) RTK drone platform. Lidar sensor DJI Zenmuse L1 is used with DJI Matrice 300 (M300) RTK platform to capture RGB colourised 3D point clouds. The data is georeferenced using the onboard GNSS in M300 and the D-RTK 2 base station. DJI Terra software was used to generate 3D point clouds from the raw lidar data. The protocols include flight planning and data collection guidelines for a 100 x 100 m TERN plot, and the processing workflow used on DJI Terra. Mission-specific metadata for each plot is provided in the imagery/metadata folder (please refer to the imagery collection). The Drone Data Collection and Lidar Processing protocols can be found at https://www.tern.org.au/field-survey-apps-and-protocols/ .

This dataset is a collection of drone RGB and multispectral imagery from plots across Australia (AusPlots, SuperSites, Cal/Val sites to be established in the future). Standardised data collection and data processing protocols are used to collect drone imagery and to generate orthomosaics. The protocols developed in 2022 are based on the DJI Matrice 300 (M300) RTK drone platform. DJI Zenmuse P1 and MicaSense RedEdge-MX/Dual sensors are used with M300 to capture RGB and multispectral imagery simultaneously. The data is georeferenced using the DJI D-RTK2 base station and onboard GNSS RTK. In the processing workflow, the multispectral image positions (captured with navigation-grade accuracy) are interpolated using image timestamp and RGB image coordinates. Dense point clouds and the fine-resolution RGB smoothed surface were used to generate co-registered RGB (1 cm/pixel) and multispectral (5 cm/pixel) orthomosaics. Mission-specific metadata for each plot is provided in the imagery/metadata folder. The Drone Data Collection and RGB and Multispectral Imagery Processing protocols can be found at https://www.tern.org.au/field-survey-apps-and-protocols/ .

This dataset lists land surface characteristics observed in Rangeland sites across Australia by the TERN Ecosystem Surveillance team, using standardised AusPlots methodologies. Land surface observations are collected at each site as part of the AusPlots method. At each site, observations on ground cover, lithology, erosion (state, extent, and human accelerated), surface drainage, microrelief, aspect and angle are recorded as part of the Ausplots Ground cover and Plot description methods.

This dataset listed landform characteristics (i.e. visible features of a land area) observed in Rangeland sites across Australia by the TERN Surveillance Monitoring team, using standardised AusPlots methodologies. Landform observations are recorded at each site as part of the AusPlots Plots and Physical Descriptions method. Observations on the landform elements and their patterns are recorded as part of this protocol.

This dataset lists the parameters associated with disturbance from Rangeland sites across Australia described by the TERN Surveillance Monitoring team, using standardised AusPlots methodologies. For each site, the disturbance parameters such as erosion type, state of erosion, extent of erosion is studied following the AusPlots Plot Description protocol and becomes an important part of understanding the site disturbance in the AusPlots Rangelands.

This dataset lists land surface substrate characteristics observed in Rangeland sites across Australia by the TERN Surveillance Monitoring team, using standardised AusPlots methodologies. Land surface substrate observations are collected at each site as part of the AusPlots Point intercept method. At each site, observations on the substrate type (e.g. rock, coarse woody debris, litter) are recorded on transect laid out on the plots. These records form the basis for ground cover derivation, see the AusPlots Ground cover and Point intercept methods below.

This dataset contains UAV multispectral imagery collected as part of a field trial to test the Uncrewed Aerial System to be used for the TERN Drone project. The UAS platform is DJI Matrice 300 RTK with 2 sensors: Zenmuse P1 (35 mm) RGB mapping camera and Micasense RedEdge-MX Dual (10-band multispectral sensor). P1 imagery were geo-referenced using the onboard GNSS in M300 and the D-RTK 2 Mobile Station. P1 Camera positions were post-processed using AUSPOS. Flight conducted between 10:26 am and 10:47 am AEDT at flying height 80 m, forward and side overlaps for Zenmuse P1 set to 80%. MicaSense RedEdge-MX Dual triggered using timer mode (every second). Micasense multispectral sensor positions were interpolated using P1, following which a standard workflow was followed in Agisoft Metashape to generate this orthomosaic (resolution 5 cm). Reflectance calibration was performed using captures of the MicaSense Calibration Panel taken before the flight. The orthomosaic raster has the relative reflectance (no unit) for the 10 bands (Coastal Blue, Blue, Green 531, Green, Red 650, Red, RedEdge 705, RedEdge, RedEdge 740, NIR). The cloud optimised (COG) GeoTIFF was created using rio command line interface. The coordinate reference system of the COG is EPSG 7855 - GDA2020 MGA Zone 55. In the raw data RedEdge-MX image file suffixes correspond to bands like so - 1: Blue, 2: Green, 3: Red, 4: NIR, 5: Red Edge, 6: Coastal Blue, 7: Green 531, 8: Red 650, 9: RedEdge 705, 10: RedEdge 740. However, in the processed Orthomoasic GeoTIFF, the bands 1-10 are ordered as per the Central Wavelength (Coastal Blue, Blue, Green 531, Green, Red 650, Red, RedEdge 705, RedEdge, RedEdge 740, NIR).

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance is a plot-based field monitoring platform that tracks the direction and magnitude of change in Australia’s environments. Information on soils and vegetation is collected according to standardized, widely endorsed and consistent protocols across all plots, and includes the collection of soil and vegetation samples for subsequent analysis. Data collected by TERN is stratified across the entire continent to ensure adequate coverage of major Australian ecosystems, and measures are repeated at least once a decade, with the aim to establish replicate plots throughout the ecosystem types existing within Australia’s Major Vegetation Groups (MVG’s). Additional plots located in key environmental transition zones will be re-measured every five to ten years. TERN users include researchers, land managers and policy-makers who require access to terrestrial ecosystem attributes collected over time from continental scale to field sites at hundreds of representative locations. TERN provides model-ready data that enables users to detect and interpret changes in ecosystems. In addition, TERN curates The TERN Australia Soil and Herbarium Collection, with over 180,000 vegetation and soil samples (and associated contextual environmental data), available to loan through the EcoPlots Samples portal via an Expression of Interest. TERN’s world-class surveillance monitoring infrastructure will support long-term ecological inventory, environmental monitoring, environmental prediction, reporting and assessment, and underpin decisions about our greatest environmental challenges.

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance is a plot-based field monitoring platform that tracks the direction and magnitude of change in Australia’s environments. Information on soils and vegetation is collected according to standardized, widely endorsed and consistent protocols across all plots, and includes the collection of soil and vegetation samples for subsequent analysis. Data collected by TERN is stratified across the entire continent to ensure adequate coverage of major Australian ecosystems, and measures are repeated at least once a decade, with the aim to establish replicate plots throughout the ecosystem types existing within Australia’s Major Vegetation Groups (MVG’s). Additional plots located in key environmental transition zones will be re-measured every five to ten years. TERN users include researchers, land managers and policy-makers who require access to terrestrial ecosystem attributes collected over time from continental scale to field sites at hundreds of representative locations. TERN provides model-ready data that enables users to detect and interpret changes in ecosystems. In addition, TERN curates The TERN Australia Soil and Herbarium Collection, with over 180,000 vegetation and soil samples (and associated contextual environmental data), available to loan through the EcoPlots Samples portal via an Expression of Interest. TERN’s world-class surveillance monitoring infrastructure will support long-term ecological inventory, environmental monitoring, environmental prediction, reporting and assessment, and underpin decisions about our greatest environmental challenges.

This dataset contains LiDAR data collected at TERN’s Calperum Mallee SuperSite during a field trial of an Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), undertaken to evaluate the use of drone-based LiDAR for the TERN Drone project across current and future TERN sites (AusPlots, SuperSites, and Cal/Val sites). Standardised TERN Ecosystem Surveillance Drone Data Collection and Data Processing protocols are used to collect drone imagery and to generate orthomosaics. The aim of drone surveys is to capture the vegetation structure. The standardised data collection and data processing protocols developed in 2022 are based on the DJI Matrice 300 (M300) RTK drone platform. Lidar sensor DJI Zenmuse L1 is used with DJI Matrice 300 (M300) RTK platform to capture RGB colourised 3D point clouds. The data is georeferenced using the onboard GNSS in M300 and the D-RTK 2 base station. DJI Terra software was used to generate 3D point clouds from the raw lidar data. The protocols include flight planning and data collection guidelines for a 100 x 100 m TERN plot, and the processing workflow used on DJI Terra. Mission-specific metadata for each plot is provided in the imagery/metadata folder (please refer to the imagery collection). The Drone Data Collection and Lidar Processing protocols can be found at https://www.tern.org.au/field-survey-apps-and-protocols/ .