Building Australia’s Scalable Drone Cloud

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Klump ◽  
Tim Brown ◽  
Rohan Clarke ◽  
Robert Glasgow ◽  
Steve Micklethwaite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Plant Phenomics

<p>Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), commonly known as drones, provide sensing capabilities that address the critical scale-gap between ground- and satellite-based observations. Their versatility allows researchers to deliver near-real-time information for society.</p><p>Key to delivering RPA information is the capacity to enable researchers to systematically collect, process, manage and share RPA-borne sensor data. Importantly, this should allow vertical integration across scales and horizontal integration across different RPA deployments. However, as an emerging technology, the best practice and standards are still developing and the large data volumes collected during RPA missions can be challenging.</p><p>Australia’s Scalable Drone Cloud (ASDC) aims to coordinate and standardise how scientists from across earth, environmental and agricultural research manage, process and analyse data collected by RPA-borne sensors, by establishing best practices in managing 3D-geospatial data and aligned with the FAIR data principles.</p><p>The ASDC is building a cloud-native platform for research drone data management and analytics, driven by exemplar data management practices, data-processing pipelines, and search and discovery of drone data. The aim of the platform is to integrate sensing capabilities with easy-to-use storage, processing, visualisation and data analysis tools (including computer vision / deep learning techniques) to establish a national ecosystem for drone data management.</p><p>The ASDC is a partnership of the Monash Drone Discovery Platform, CSIRO and key National Collaborative Research Infrastructure (NCRIS) capabilities including the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF), Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), and AuScope.</p><p>This presentation outlines the roadmap and first proof-of-concept implementation of the ASDC.</p>

Evolution of data infrastructure for effective integration and management of environmental and ecosystem data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddeswara Guru ◽  
Gerhard Weis ◽  
Wilma Karsdorp ◽  
Andrew Cleland ◽  
Jenny Mahuika ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Data Products ◽  
Data Collections

<p>The Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) is Australia's national research infrastructure to observe, monitor and support the study and forecasting of continental-scale ecological changes. TERN data are classified under two themes: Ecology and Biogeophysical.</p><p> The Ecology theme relates predominantly to plot-based ecological observations conducted as a one-off, repeated surveys and sensor-based measurements. The Biogeophysical theme-related data collections are inclusive of point-based time-series eddy-covariance based micrometeorological measurements from flux towers; and continental and regional scale gridded data products related to remote sensing, soil and landscape ecology.</p><p>Integrating and querying data from different data sources are complicated. Furthermore,</p><p>The advancement of technology has transformed the mode of data collection. For instance, mobile sensors (drones) of various sizes are used more in recent times to sample the environment. The user-centric data handling mechanisms of different types of datasets are dissimilar, requiring heterogeneous data management practices alongside ease of access to data for users bundled with tools and platforms to interrogate, access, analyse and share analysis pipelines.</p><p>TERN is developing data e-infrastructure to support holistic capabilities that not only manage to store, curate and distribute data. But, enable processing based on user needs, linking consistent data to various analysis tools and pipelines and acquisition of data skills. The infrastructure would allow collaboration with other national and international data infrastructures and ingest data from partners including state and federal government institutes by adopting domain standards for metadata and data management and publications.</p><p>For effective data management of plot-based ecology data, we have developed an ontology-based on O&M and Semantic Sensor Network Ontology with an extension to support basic concepts of ecological sites and sampling. Besides, controlled vocabularies for observed properties, observation procedures and standard lists for taxa, geology, soils etc. will supplement the ontology.</p><p>The biogeophysical data is managed using domain standards in the data and metadata management. Each of the data products is represented in a standard file format and hosted in an OGC standard web services. All datasets are described and catalogued using ISO standards. An overarching discovery portal allows users to search, access and interact with data collections. The user’s interaction with data can be at the collection level, on a spatial map and via web services and Application Programming Interface (API).</p><p>TERN has also developed a cloud-based virtual desktop environment, CoESRA, accessible from a web browser to enable easy access to the computing platform with tools for the ecosystem science community. The advantage is that it allows access to all TERN data in a compute environment for performing analysis and synthesis activities from a single managed platform.</p>

scholarly journals A spatial-temporal continuous dataset of the transpiration to evapotranspiration ratio in China from 1981–2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongen Niu ◽  
Honglin He ◽  
Gaofeng Zhu ◽  
Xiaoli Ren ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Energy Budgets ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract The ratio of plant transpiration to total terrestrial evapotranspiration (T/ET) captures the role of vegetation in surface-atmosphere interactions. However, several studies have documented a large variability in T/ET. In this paper, we present a new T/ET dataset (also including transpiration, evapotranspiration data) for China from 1981 to 2015 with spatial and temporal resolutions of 0.05° and 8 days, respectively. The T/ET dataset is based on a model-data fusion method that integrates the Priestley-Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL) model with multivariate observational datasets (transpiration and evapotranspiration). The dataset is driven by satellite-based leaf area index (LAI) data from GLASS and GLOBMAP, and climate data from the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN). Observational annual T/ET were used to validate the model, with R2 and RMSE values were 0.73 and 0.07 (12.41%), respectively. The dataset provides significant insight into T/ET and its changes over the Chinese terrestrial ecosystem and will be beneficial for understanding the hydrological cycle and energy budgets between the land and the atmosphere.

The Forest Ecosystem Research Network of Sites (FERNS)

1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Mitchell ◽  
C. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Research Investments

The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) has organized a National Forest Ecosystem Research Network of Sites (FERNS). These sites are focussed on the study of sustainable forest management practices and ecosystem processes at the stand level. Network objectives are to promote this research nationally and internationally, provide linkages among sites, preserve the long-term research investments already made on these sites and provide a forum for information exchange and data sharing. The 17 individual sites are representative of six ecozones across Canada and address the common issue of silvicultural solutions to problems of sustainable forest management. While the CFS coordinates and promotes FERNS, the network consists of local autonomous partners nationwide who benefit from the FERNS affiliation through increased publicity for their sites. Key words: long-term, silviculture, network, interdisciplinary, ecozone, ecosystem processes

scholarly journals The photosynthetic pathways of plant species surveyed in Australia’s national terrestrial monitoring network

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Munroe ◽  
Francesca A McInerney ◽  
Jake Andrae ◽  
Nina Welti ◽  
Greg Guerin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Photosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Photosynthetic Pathways

The photosynthetic pathway of plants is a fundamental trait that influences terrestrial environments from the local to global level. The abundance of different photosynthetic pathways in Australia is expected to undergo a substantial shift due to climate change and rising atmospheric CO2; however, tracking change is hindered by a lack of data on the pathways of species, as well as their distribution and relative cover within plant communities. Here we present the photosynthetic pathways for 2428 species recorded across 541 plots surveyed by Australia’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) between 2011 and 2017. This dataset was created to facilitate research exploring trends in vegetation change across Australia. Species were assigned a photosynthetic pathway using published literature and stable carbon isotope analysis of bulk tissue. The photosynthetic pathway of species can be extracted from the dataset individually, or used in conjunction with vegetation surveys to study the occurrence and abundance of pathways across the continent. This dataset will be updated as TERN’s plot network expands and new information becomes available. This manuscript is currently in review with the journal "Scientific Data" and was submitted on 17/11/2020

scholarly journals ecoEd: Cohesive training and skill development for digital ecoscience tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Huijbers
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Industry Professionals

Digital research infrastructures such as data portals and virtual laboratories enable easier access to data and analytical tools. Such infrastructures are essential to deliver research excellence that drives innovation, but we also need to ensure that we have a skilled workforce that can use these infrastructures. Therefore, training and skill development of students, researchers, government practitioners and industry professionals is key to the long-term success of this investment. In Australia, a suite of digital infrastructures has been developed for environmental sciences to enhance our understanding of the natural world and making forward projections into novel conditions (e.g. Atlas of Living Australia, Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Laboratory, ecocloud, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network). To provide users with a holistic approach to environmental spatial data discovery and analysis, these infrastructures have joined forces to deliver an exciting and innovative new training program. This program, called ecoEd, provides cohesive training and skill development to university lecturers, researchers and industry professionals enabling them to combine theoretical concepts with real-world applications. In this presentation, I will present how ecoEd was developed and the outcomes of the training sessions in which a group of ecoEd Champions absorbed ready-to-use lecture and workshop modules along with tools and knowledge on how to use the platforms. These resources can immediately be used in undergraduate courses that focus on topics such as ecology, biogeography, conservation biology, environmental management and spatial analysis as well as in stand alone workshops for researchers and practitioners. The training program aims to provide the Champions with the resources and knowledge required so that they can confidently re-deliver the lectures and workshops in their own institutions. As such, ecoEd is increasing the capacity of Australia’s environmental science community to advance science and deliver outcomes that underpin the sustainable use of our ecosystems using the latest advances in digital technologies. Moreover, it is enabling first-rate science education in Australia by supporting and nurturing our future scientists.

scholarly journals The photosynthetic pathways of plant species surveyed in Australia’s national terrestrial monitoring network

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha E. M. Munroe ◽  
Francesca A. McInerney ◽  
Jake Andrae ◽  
Nina Welti ◽  
Greg R. Guerin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Photosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Photosynthetic Pathways ◽  
Terrestrial Environments

AbstractThe photosynthetic pathway of plants is a fundamental trait that influences terrestrial environments from the local to global level. The distribution of different photosynthetic pathways in Australia is expected to undergo a substantial shift due to climate change and rising atmospheric CO2; however, tracking change is hindered by a lack of data on the pathways of species, as well as their distribution and relative cover within plant communities. Here we present the photosynthetic pathways for 2428 species recorded across 541 plots surveyed by Australia’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) between 2011 and 2017. This dataset was created to facilitate research exploring trends in vegetation change across Australia. Species were assigned a photosynthetic pathway using published literature and stable carbon isotope analysis of bulk tissue. The photosynthetic pathway of species can be extracted from the dataset individually, or used in conjunction with vegetation surveys to study the occurrence and abundance of pathways across the continent. This dataset will be updated as TERN’s plot network expands and new information becomes available.

scholarly journals Data Management and Preservation Planning for Big Science

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Bicarregui ◽  
Norman Gray ◽  
Rob Henderson ◽  
Roger Jones ◽  
Simon Lambert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Big Science ◽  
Preservation Planning ◽  
Engineering Managers ◽  
Academic Cultures ◽  
Data Infrastructures

‘Big Science’ - that is, science which involves large collaborations with dedicated facilities, and involving large data volumes and multinational investments – is often seen as different when it comes to data management and preservation planning. Big Science handles its data differently from other disciplines and has data management problems that are qualitatively different from other disciplines. In part, these differences arise from the quantities of data involved, but possibly more importantly from the cultural, organisational and technical distinctiveness of these academic cultures. Consequently, the data management systems are typically and rationally bespoke, but this means that the planning for data management and preservation (DMP) must also be bespoke.These differences are such that ‘just read and implement the OAIS specification’ is reasonable Data Management and Preservation (DMP) advice, but this bald prescription can and should be usefully supported by a methodological ‘toolkit’, including overviews, case-studies and costing models to provide guidance on developing best practice in DMP policy and infrastructure for these projects, as well as considering OAIS validation, audit and cost modelling.In this paper, we build on previous work with the LIGO collaboration to consider the role of DMP planning within these big science scenarios, and discuss how to apply current best practice. We discuss the result of the MaRDI-Gross project (Managing Research Data Infrastructures – Big Science), which has been developing a toolkit to provide guidelines on the application of best practice in DMP planning within big science projects. This is targeted primarily at projects’ engineering managers, but intending also to help funders collaborate on DMP plans which satisfy the requirements imposed on them.

Biodiversity and Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Australian Continent ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research

This data-rich book demonstrates the value of existing national long-term ecological research in Australia for monitoring environmental change and biodiversity. Long-term ecological data are critical for informing trends in biodiversity and environmental change. The Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) is a major initiative of the Australian Government and one of its key areas of investment is to provide funding for a network of long-term ecological research plots around Australia (LTERN). LTERN researchers and other authors in this book have maintained monitoring sites, often for one or more decades, in an array of different ecosystems across the Australian continent – ranging from tropical rainforests, wet eucalypt forests and alpine regions through to rangelands and deserts. This book highlights some of the temporal changes in the environment that have occurred in the various systems in which dedicated field-based ecologists have worked. Many important trends and changes are documented and they often provide new insights that were previously poorly understood or unknown. These data are precisely the kinds of data so desperately needed to better quantify the temporal trajectories in the environment in Australia. By presenting trend patterns (and often also the associated data) the authors aim to catalyse governments and other organisations to better recognise the importance of long-term data collection and monitoring as a fundamental part of ecologically-effective and cost-effective management of the environment and biodiversity.

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