TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training

Thank you for registering for the TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training at Calperum South Australia.

Before attending the training please take a look though the pages we've put together so you know what to expect, what to pack and let us know when and where to pick you up (or if you are self driving)!

Step 1. Arrival Details - Let us know when and where to pick you up from, or if you are driving to Calperum

Step 2. What to pack

Step 3. Training details - What to expect from the training week

Step 4. Review the pre-training materials - Familiarise yourself with the monitoring protocols

Arrival details

To help us organise your transport to and from Calperum Station, please confirm your travel arrangements. Even if you included these details in your registration form, please send them through again so we can ensure our records are accurate and up to date.

Your Name *

Your Email *

Subject *

Getting to Calperum Station *

I'd like to be picked up and dropped of from Adelaide Airport

I'd like to be picked up from an Adelaide Hotel

I will provide my own transport to and from Calperum Station

I will meet at Adelaide University's Waite Campus (Urrbrae, Adelaide) for transport with TERN to Calperum

Photo permission *

Yes

Thank you for taking part in TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training.

TERN may use photographs and video from the training for the purposes listed below. As a participant, we ask for permission to take, use and reproduce images of you. If you agree to your image being used in this manner, please check the box above. This consent is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time, with written notice to tern@adelaide.edu.au.

I understand that I am granting permission to the rights of my image, likeness and sound of my voice as recorded on audio or video without payment or any other consideration. I understand that my image may be edited, copied, exhibited, published or distributed and I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein my likeness appears. Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my image or recording. I also understand that this material may be used in publications within an unrestricted geographic area.

Photographic, audio or video recordings may be used for the following purposes related to TERN:

conference presentations
informational presentations
social media posts
blog posts
newsletter articles
promotional materials
website

By ticking the 'Yes' box I acknowledge that I have completely read and fully understand the above release and agree to be bound thereby.

Submit

Accommodation

Accommodation will be shared rooms in the Calperum Station Dormitory Complex. BYO bedding and towels. Or if you would prefer, you are welcome to camp on site. BYO all camping equipment and bedding. The cost is included in the training fee and is the same whether you camp or stay the dormitory. If you sent special requirements on your registration form we have taken this into account.

Meals

All meals are provided at Calperum Station and included in training cost. Meals when traveling to and from Calperum are at your own expense.

Dinner on Sunday 2nd and Thursday 6th August (after lecture days) will be at Renmark Hotel and will be at your own expense.

Dietary allergies and preferences identified on the registration form have been provided to the caterer.

What to pack

Please remember the accommodation is shared bunk house and you are required to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel. The weather is unpredictable it can be freezing cold, raining and sunny all in one day so please pack appropriate clothing for all conditions.

Evenings will be group dinner and informal discussion, and then free time. Please feel free to bring cards, games, books etc.

Recommended packing list:

For days in the field:

Hiking/work boots * (suitable for rough terrain, water proof and comfortable enough to be worn all day)
Plenty of warm clothes for the duration of the course
Rainproof jacket
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, long sleeves)
Lunch box (we will provide lunches and esky/fridge to pack own lunches throughout the week)
Drink bottle/s (at least 2L)
Notebook & pen
Daypack for personal belongings

For the evenings:

Sleeping bag
Pillow
Warm clothing, including jackets and jumpers – it can be very cold at night
Torch or head torch and spare batteries
Comfortable shoes for the end of the day
Towel
Toiletries
Charger/s for personal devices
A book
$$ for dinner at Renmark Hotel on Sunday and Thursday evenings and lunch on the travel days

If you'd like to camp:

Tent or Swag
Sleeping mat

Provided by TERN:

All food (except 1-2 Hotel dinner/s and lunch during travel, see above)
Water
Cooking and kitchen utensils
Sunscreen and insect repellent
First aid supplies
Accident insurance
Accommodation and travel costs

Training details

You have registered to attend either part or all of The TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training: Field Methods and Protocols + Remote Sensing Calibration and Validation at Calperum Station, Riverland, South Australia, from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th August 2026.

These courses are open to anyone interested in ecological monitoring, offering both practical and theoretical training in monitoring methods and on-ground calibration/ validation for remote sensing. This training is ideal for ecologists, students, and environmental consultants.

Weather

The weather is unpredictable it can be freezing cold, raining and sunny all in one day so please pack appropriate clothing for all conditions.

Renmark:

Daytime Highs: Average daily maximums range between 15°C and 16°C.
Overnight Lows: Nights are cold and crisp, typically dropping to 5°C to 7°C. On the coldest nights, temperatures can occasionally dip down to between 2°C and 4°C.
Winter is relatively dry. June to August sees minimal rainfall, typically averaging around 15 mm to 20 mm per month.
Please pack appropriate clothing for all conditions

What to expect:

Where:

Calperum Station, Riverland, South Australia

Where to meet: The main track in, is the best track. It is clearly marked. Once you go over the grid and are on the dirt, it’s not too far to the entrance track.

Participants will:

receive hands-on instruction in TERN field data collection using standardised tools, guided by experienced ecologists
participate in practical demonstrations, including establishing a TERN one hectare plot and applying vegetation and soil monitoring protocols
apply ecosystem monitoring methods in real-world field settings across different landscapes
gain practical experience using the TERN “Monitor” app in the field
be introduced to the Ecosystem Monitoring System of Australia (EMSA) and how its standardised modules support consistent ecological data collection
engage with TERN staff to understand how data are collected, managed and used for environmental decision-making
access resources and support to apply skills beyond the training

The TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training: Field Methods and Protocols + Remote Sensing Calibration and Validation at Calperum Station, Riverland, South Australia, from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th August 2026.

If you are only attending one of the trainings the dates are:

The Field Methods and Protocols training - Saturday 1st to Thursday 6th of August

The Remote Sensing Calibration and Validation training - Wednesday 5th to Sunday 9th of August

Saturday 1st August

Travel to Calperum Station

Pick up time from Adelaide Airport, The Waite Campus or Arkaba Hotel is between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 1st August.

Sunday 2nd of August

Theory day at Renmark Hotel

9 - 5 pm
TERN Ecosystem Methods and Rational (lunch, morning and afternoon tea included)

6 pm
Dinner at Renmark Hotel

Monday 3rd of August

Field day at Calperum Station

9 - 5 pm

Field training demonstrations, each day with a different trainer focused on vegetation, soil and technology (lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea included)

6 pm

Dinner at Calperum Station

Tuesday 4th of August

Field day at Calperum Station

9 - 5 pm

Field training demonstrations, each day with a different trainer focused on vegetation, soil and technology (lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea included)

6 pm

Dinner at Calperum Station

Wednesday 5th of August

Field day at Calperum Station

9 - 5 pm

Field training demonstrations, each day with a different trainer focused on vegetation, soil and technology (lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea included)

6 pm

Dinner at Calperum Station

Thursday 6th of August

Theory day at Renmark Hotel

9 - 5 pm
TERN Calibration & Validation theory (lunch, morning and afternoon tea included).

6 pm
Dinner at Renmark Hotel

Friday 7th of August

Field day at Calperum Station

9 - 5 pm

Calibration Validation field demonstrations (lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea included)

6 pm

Dinner at Calperum Station

Saturday 8th of August

Field day at Calperum Station

9 - 5 pm

Calibration Validation field demonstrations (lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea included)

6 pm

Dinner at Calperum Station

Sunday 9th of August

Travel back to Adelaide.

We expect to be back in Adelaide by early afternoon on Thursday 6th August (Ecology course only), or Sunday 9th August (Full course or Cal/val only), so, a mid to late afternoon flight would be best.

When

Schedule

Pre-training materials

Look through the Module Manuals

The TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training will cover some of the EMSA Field Monitoring protocols including: Plot Selection and Layout, Floristics, Plant Tissue Vouchering, Cover, Plot Description, Photopoints, Basal Area and Soils.

To get the most out of your training we encourage you to familiarise yourself with these modules before attending the training.

Go to module manuals

Useful Terminology

We will continue to update this list as the training approaches so please come back and familiarise yourself with some of the TERN monitoring terms as you read through the training materials.

TERN Plots Terminology

Basal area	The average amount of area occupied by tree stems within a defined area. It is quantified by measuring the cross-sectional area of all trees (>2m tall), over the bark, at breast height (1.3 m above ground level) and values are expressed per hectare (m2/ha). Convertible to standing biomass using allometric equations.
Collection	A completed survey’s data for a single protocol collected in Monitor
Ecological field monitoring protocols manual	A comprehensive manual comprising of detailed EMSA Modules that include step by step instructions and procedures for conducting monitoring surveys, detailed rational for the methodologies, equipment lists and more.
EMSA	Ecological Monitoring System Australia – A set of nationally standardised survey modules and data systems aimed at improving the collection, management and storage of ecological field data.
Foliage projective cover	The percentage of ground area occupied by the vertical projection of foliage only (excludes canopy gaps i.e. in canopy sky)
In canopy sky	Recorded when the vertical line of sight through the densitometer does not intercept any part of a tree’s canopy (foliage and branches) but is enclosed within the boundary of the tree’s canopy. Allows point-intercept data to be expressed as foliage projective cover and opaque canopy cover.
In-progress data	Data being entered into the Monitor app for a single protocol. The survey has not yet been completed, and the data can still be edited.
Module	A 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.
Monitor	The EMSA field data collection app, a progressive web app (PWA). Monitor is intended to be used in the field for live data collection.
NVIS	National Vegetation Information System
Opaque canopy cover	The percentage of ground area occupied by the vertical projection of the entire canopy as defined by a boundary around the outermost foliage (includes canopy gaps i.e. in canopy sky)
Plant specimen voucher	A pressed and dried specimen of an individual plant, containing aboveground structures ((leaves, stems, bark, flowers, fruits, seeds) and belowground structures (roots, rhizomes) when possible.
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.
Point-intercept	A method designed to sample species, growth form, strata or substrate cover by placing a point intercept device (e.g. a pole) along a transect at regular intervals and determining the points that intercept vegetation or substrate. Percent cover is calculated as the number of hits divided by the total number of point intercepts multiplied by 100.
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 (tablet or phone) and performs like an App but has greater offline capability.
Queued collection	A survey collection that has been completed in Monitor and is stored on the device locally but has not yet been ‘synced with the cloud’. Once synced, the data is stored in the cloud storage database . The data in a ‘queued collection’ is complete and cannot be edited.
Survey	The act of collecting data, following steps outlined in one of the EMSA protocols.
Synced collection	A survey collection that has been completed on Monitor and ‘synced with the cloud’ so that it is now appearing in the cloud storage database. The data from a synced dataset collection is no longer stored in local storage on your device. This data is complete and cannot be edited.
TERN	Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network – Australia’s national land ecosystem observatory. TERN provides open access standardised ecological data collected from 1000+ monitoring plots across Australia.
TERN Plot
Transect
Voucher	A preserved specimen of an expertly identified taxon deposited in a permanent and accessible storage facility that may later be obtained for examination and further study.

Calibration Validation Terminology

Calibration	The process of quantitatively defining the system response to known controlled signal inputs.
Cal/Val	Calibration Validation - Verifying that the suite of processing algorithms used to convert raw data into geophysical or biophysical quantities is self-consistent.

Post-Training

This page will be populated with resources after the TERN training, please return then..

Training Photos

Photos taken at the training will be made available for download via the button below. Please feel free to use these if you are sharing information about the TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training with your team or in newsletters. If you took any photos and would be happy for us to share them, please email them to us at tern@adelaide.edu.au

Feedback Survey

Thank you for taking the time to attend the TERN Ecosystem Monitoring Training. We hope that you found the training useful and would appreciate any feedback that you can provide.

Training Feedback Survey will be available here

Links to TERN Resources - available after training

Training Slides

Module Manuals and documents

Review the pre-training material

Best-practice workflow

Watch the video to familiarise yourself with the best-practice use of Monitor. This is particularly important when working in the field with limited access to internet. Some key things to remember:

Only sync if you have a stable internet connection
Try to sync at the end of each day to avoid a backlog of syncing
Before using your device in the field, make sure you 'prepare for offline collections'
Check your data summary BEFORE queuing the collection, changes cannot be made after queuing
Always practice using a module on Monitor Staging before using Monitor Production

Caching Map Tiles

Many image tiles are required to create each layer of a map. Together these can take up a considerable amount of space on your device, an may slow the app down. Therefore map tiles are not stored in Monitor and we recommend loading the necessary tiles for your area, prior to going into the field. Watch the video for more information.

Look through the Module Manuals

All EMSA on-ground trainings will include the Plot Selection, Floristics, Cover and Photopoints modules. To get the most out of your training we encourage you to familiarise yourself with these modules before attendings.

Go to module manuals

Read the 'Using the Monitor App Manual'

Download and become familiar with the using the Monitor App manual. The document includes information about installing the app, printing voucher barcodes, connecting a GNSS device and important workflow tips

Useful EMSA Terminology

EMSA - Ecological Monitoring System Australia

Project - Project name appearing MERIT and funded under the Australian Government – Natural Resource Management (NRM) program.

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 entire area 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.

Fauna plot - A paired 100 x 100 m plot adjacent to core monitoring plot, where the vertebrate and invertebrate surveys take place

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.

On plot - A monitoring protocol that occurs within a plot

Off plot - A monitoring protocol that does not occur within a monitoring plot

Dataset Collection - Completed data collection for a single protocol in Monitor or MERIT

Survey - The act of collecting data, following steps outlined in one of the EMSA protocols.

Monitor - EMSA data collection PWA. Monitor is intended to be used in the field for live data collection.

PWA - Progressive Web App. A web application that can be installed on a mobile device (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.

Review the pre-training material

Best-practice workflow

Watch the video to familiarise yourself with the best-practice use of Monitor. This is particularly important when working in the field with limited access to internet. Some key things to remember:

Only sync if you have a stable internet connection
Try to sync at the end of each day to avoid a backlog of syncing
Before using your device in the field, make sure you 'prepare for offline collections'
Check your data summary BEFORE queuing the collection, changes cannot be made after queuing
Always practice using a module on Monitor Staging before using Monitor Production