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Robson Creek Rainforest Phenocam Images and Phenology Data Collection 

Ver: 1.0
Status of Data: onGoing
Update Frequency: daily
Security Classification: unclassified
Dataset Published: 2022-03-14
Dataset Last Modified: 2026-08-18
Metadata viewed 303 times
Dataset accessed 26 times
Metadata Created: 2013-11-01
Metadata Last Modified: 2026-08-19
How to cite this collection:
Liddell, M. (2022). Robson Creek Rainforest Phenocam Images and Phenology Data Collection. Version 1.0. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/e3d15ea3-1bd4-4b8c-b78f-5fcf25d2200e 
Data can be accessed from the following links:
HTTPTERN EcoImages REST API
HTTPTERN EcoImages Portal
HTTPPoint-of-truth metadata URL
HTTPro-crate-metadata.json
Fixed cameras installed at TERN Robson Creek Rainforest SuperSite provide a time series of fine scale data as a long-term record of vegetation structure and condition. This dense time series of phenocam images provides data for analysis of ecological responses to climate variability, and when consolidated across the entire terrestrial ecosystem research network, supports calibration and validation of satellite-derived remote sensing data, ensuring delivery of higher quality results for broader scale environmental monitoring products.
Images are captured half hourly during daylight hours. Images and data products, including timeseries of the Green Chromatic Coordinate (Gcc) for a region-of-interest (ROI) that delineates an area of specific vegetation type, are made available on an almost real-time basis.
The 25 hectare site lies on the Atherton Tablelands in the wet tropical rainforests of Australia at 680-740 m elevation. It is situated in Danbulla National Park within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The forest is classified as Regional Ecosystem (RE) 7.3.36a, complex mesophyll vine forest. The climate is seasonal with approximately 60% of rain falling between January and March and the landform is moderately inclined with a low relief. There are 208 species in the site, and average canopy height is 28 m, ranging from 23 to 44 m. All stems ≥ 10 cm diameter are measured, tagged and mapped. For additional site information, see https://www.tern.org.au/tern-observatory/tern-ecosystem-processes/robson-creek-rainforest-supersite/.
Other images collected at the site include photopoints, digital cover photography (DCP) and ancillary images of fauna and flora.
 
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. TERN Robson Creek Rainforest SuperSite is located Danbulla National Park within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area administered by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife. James Cook University manages the site.
This work was funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), an Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) project.
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
 
Purpose
Time series of vegetation phenological observations are collected to understand ecosystems annual cycles. Phenological timeseries can be used for ground-truthing remote sensing data products, for studies of climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, and as a standard for earth system models. 
Lineage
Data not provided. 
Method DocumentationData not provided.
Procedure StepsData not provided.
Spatial Description
Located on the Atherton Tablelands, in Danbulla National Park, within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. 
Temporal Coverage
From 2013-11-01 to on going 
Spatial Resolution

Data not provided.

Vertical Extent

Data not provided.

Data Quality Assessment Scope
For each image, across a region-of-interest (ROI) delineating a specific vegetation type, we extract RGB (red, green, blue) colour channel information, with chromatic coordinates and means, quantiles and correlation among colour channels being calculated. Hazeness of the image as well as global environmental light are assessed. 
Data Quality Report
Data not provided. 
Data Quality Assessment Outcome
Data not provided. 
ANZSRC - FOR
Environmental management
Forest biodiversity
Data Stream
EcoImages
GCMD Sciences
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS - ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS
VEGETATION - FOREST COMPOSITION/VEGETATION STRUCTURE
VEGETATION - PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
VEGETATION - PLANT PHENOLOGY
VEGETATION INDEX
VISIBLE IMAGERY
VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS
Horizontal Resolution
1 meter - < 30 meters
Instruments
AU-Rob_overstorey-oblique-ccfc-1879
Phenocamera
Parameters
green chromatic coordinate
red chromatic coordinate
RGB values
Platforms
Robson Creek Rainforest
Project
TERN Ecosystem Processes
Temporal Resolution
1 minute - < 1 hour
Topic
environment
User Defined
Core 1 ha
fnqr_robson
phenocam images
phenology transiton
TERN Ecosystem Processes
vegetation colour
vegetation greeness
vegetation phenology
Author
Liddell, Michael
Contact Point
Liddell, Michael
Publisher
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
Karan, M. (2020). SuperSites Vegetation Monitoring Protocols v 1.21. TERN Australian SuperSite Network. Cairns, Australia. doi:10.4227/05/56134C1310F16
Bradford, M (2015). General Vegetation Description, Far North Queensland Rainforest SuperSite, Robson Creek, Core 1 ha, 2014. dataset. TERN Australian SuperSite Network.
Richardson, A.D. (2019), Tracking seasonal rhythms of plants in diverse ecosystems with digital camera imagery. New Phytol, 222. doi:10.1111/nph.15591
Robson Creek Rainforest SuperSite
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia.
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license allows others to copy, distribute, display, and create derivative works provided that they credit the original source and any other nominated parties. Details are provided at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 
TERN services are provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Users use any TERN services at their discretion and risk. They will be solely responsible for any damage or loss whatsoever that results from such use including use of any data obtained through TERN and any analysis performed using the TERN infrastructure.
Web links to and from external, third party websites should not be construed as implying any relationships with and/or endorsement of the external site or its content by TERN.

Please advise any work or publications that use this data via the online form at https://www.tern.org.au/research-publications/#reporting 

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