The SLATS star transect field dataset has been compiled as a record of vegetative and non-vegetative fractional cover as recorded in situ according to the method described in Muir et al (2011). The datasets are a combination of vegetation fractions collected in three strata - non-woody vegetation including vegetative litter near the soil surface, woody vegetation less than 2 metres, and woody vegetation greater than 2 metres - at homogeneous areas of approximately 1 hectare. This dataset is compiled from a variety of sources, including available sites from the ABARES ground cover reference sites database.
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.
The following organisations have contributed to the data collection: Joint Remote Sensing Research Project, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Curtin University, University of Adelaide, CSIRO, Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
This work was funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), an Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) project.
Purpose
The SLATS star transect data has been collected to calibrate and validate large area fractional cover spatial datasets derived from remote sensing, that are produced regularly—monthly, seasonally, annually—enabling change in ground cover to be monitored consistently across Australia.
Lineage
Data Creation
Protocol:
Star transect locations are selected to cover homogenous areas of approximately 1 hectare. A summary of the field data collection process is here.
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Data Quality