Hi EMSA community,
We're headed towards mid-autumn and many NRM regions are setting up EMSA monitoring plots and heading out into the field to start using the Monitor app to collect their survey data. Now is a great time to familiarise yourself with some EMSA terminology. Check out some definitions of terms that commonly appear in the EMSA Modules and Monitor App, and happy monitoring!
EMSA Terms
Project area/Project extent area – The overall area studied as part of a MERIT project, all the plots in the project must fall within the project area. This area may consist of a single parcel of land or multiple parcels. The Project (Extent) Area cannot be entered or uploaded as multiple areas and should encompass all parcels of land relevant to your project. We suggest this area covers the entirety of your NRM region.
Plot – A specified 100 x 100 m area where data is collected. Plots are generally established in locations that are homogenous areas representative of the stratified sampling units (or zones), with consistent vegetation, slope, relief and soil.
Dataset collection – Completed dataset for a single protocol in Monitor or MERIT.
Survey – The act of collecting data, following steps outlined in one of the EMSA protocols.
Module – Section of the Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual describing specific methods to accurately measure environmental change for a specific variable/s in the Australian environment.
Protocol – The method used for monitoring and data collection. There may be one or several protocols described for a Module.
PWA – Progressive Web App. A web application that can be installed on a mobile device, (a tablet or phone) and performs like an app but has greater offline capability.
In-progress data – Data being entered into the Monitor app for a single protocol. The protocol has not yet been completed and can still be edited.
Queued dataset collection – A survey’s dataset collection that has been completed in Monitor but not yet ‘synced with the cloud’ so that it will appear in MERIT and in the BDR. The data in a queued dataset collection is complete and cannot be edited.
Synced dataset collection – A survey’s dataset collection that has been completed on Monitor and ‘synced with the cloud’ so that it is now appearing in MERIT and is on it’s way to the BDR. The data from a synced dataset collection is no longer on your device and is stored in a database before being sent to the BDR. This data is complete and cannot be edited.
Data dump – A snapshot of the data stored in Monitor on your device. The EMSA Help Desk may send you instructions for sending a data dump to them if you’re stuck and they need to troubleshoot.
Staging platform in Monitor app - The staging platform is a space where you, your project partners and contractors can practice using the monitor app and modules. It is a copy of the production (real) platform, but all data entered into staging will be deleted at the end of each week.
Production (real) platform in Monitor app - This platform is for the collection of real monitoring data. Do not use for practice or testing.