Plot observation entry
Data describing the sampling site (= plot) and meta data related to an observation on this site are entered in the plot observations tab. The project-level profile determines the selection of fields. There are predefined fields to choose from and more can be added. You may also want to define default values (see profiles).
Photo and GPS
If your device has a camera you can use the photo button to take a picture of the site. Note that photos are not exported along with a project so they need separate handling if you need to tranfer them. It is also good to know that the app's photos are deleted when you uninstall Vegpapp. The last added photo is shown as title image or you can use the app's own photo browser to chose a different picture for the title (in the browser, long-press on a photo). The browser can be reached by tapping on the title photo or using the menu. Tapping the location icon opens the map and starts GPS measurements if possible.
Plot attributes
Custom fields
| Custom fields | You can add up to ten custom fields related to plot observations. Please refer to custom fields if you want to learn more about this option. |
ID's
| * id Observation | Unique name for the plot record. |
| id Plot | Name for the plot, i.e. the physical place were you register the plot record. This is required for dealing with resurveys. |
| id Parent Plot | ID of a higher-order plot, if you have one. |
Location
| * Latitude and Longitude (°) | In decimal degrees. Can be retrieved using the location button at the top of the list, which opens the map-view where the coordinates can be set or retrieved using the device's GPS module. |
| CRS (Lat/Lon) | Reference system for the coordinates. Ideally an EPSG code (see spatialreference.org). The spatial reference typically used by satellite navigation systems today is EPSG:4326. |
| Northing and Easting | Coordinates related to projected coordinate systems. |
| CRS (x/y) | Coordinate reference system for northing / easting. Ideally an EPSG code (see spatialreference.org). |
| * Accuracy (m) | Expected closeness of the position values to the actual position. With GPS devices this is usually measured as Circular Error Probability (CEP: radius of a circle centred on the true value that contains 50% of the actual GPS measurements). |
| Accuracy (DOP) | GPS accuracy measured as Geometric Dilution of Precision. |
| Markers | Information about any markers (like magnetic markers or wooden pegs) that help locating the plot and where in the plot they are placed. |
| Plot Origin | Point in the plot where the coordinates have been measured. |
| * Country | Usually area of a sovereign state like Italy or Botswana |
| Federated State | Part of a federal state (like canton, regione, Bundesland etc.). |
| County | Smaller division of a country used for administrative purposes (like comté, provincia, Landkreis) |
| Place | Any textual description of the location of the plot. |
| Survey Grid | Grid used for mapping at a broader scale (for example in national floristic surveys) |
| Survey Cell | Grid cell (belonging to a survey grid) where the plot is located |
| Survey Quadrant | Quadrant of a survey cell where the plot is located |
Terrain
| * Elevation (m) | Height above sea level. |
| * Aspect (°) | The compass direction that a slope faces, in degrees. Can be retrieved by hitting the icon. During measurements, keep the device away from other electronic devices or magnetic fields. It is good practice to calibrate the compass using a specialised app. The retrieved azimuth data should be accurate to within 2° to 20°, depending on magnetometer and place, so consider using a quality analogue compass instead. |
| Aspect (classes) | Direction that a slope faces, at the level of secondary-intercardinal directions (like N, NNE, NE, ENE etc.). |
| * Slope (°) | Slope angle to a horizontal surface. Can be retrieved by hitting the icon after the device has been aligned with the slope. The pitch data retrieved should be accurate to within ±1°, but this depends on the device. If you notice deviations from 0° on horizontal surfaces, you can calibrate the device using specialised apps. |
| Landform | Usually a slope landform like ridge, terrace, gully etc. |
Plot geometry
| * Plot Shape | Form of the plot (like quadrat, rectangle, circle, line, polygon) |
| * Plot Size (m²) | Area of the plot |
| Plot Radius (m) | In case of the plot having a circular form: length of a line from its center to its perimeter |
| Plot Width (m) | In case of the plot being a rectangle this gives the length of the shorter side |
| Plot Length (m) | In case of the plot being a rectangle this gives the length of the longer side |
| Plot Orientation (°) | In case of the plot being a rectangle or line this gives a direction of the longer side / line |
Placement strategy
| Placement strategy | The sampling strategy followed when placing the plot |
Meta data for the observation
| * Date | Starting date of the plot observation in format DD/MM/YYYY. Tapping on this field opens a datepicker. |
| * Observers | Person(s) who did the field work (you can add multiple persons with their first and last name) |
| * Mosses Identified | If mosses have been identified during this observation (yes or no) |
| * Lichens Identified | If lichens have been identified during this observation (yes or no) |
Community observations
| Formation | Physiognomic type of vegetation (for example according to the UNESCO key, like tropical ombrophilous lowland forest, mainly evergreen scrub, tall forb community) |
| Alliance | Vegetation type at the level of alliances, according to the phytosociological system |
| Association | Vegetation type at the level of associations,according to the phytosociological system |
| Subassociation | Vegetation type at the level of subassociations, according to the phytosociological system |
| Community | Vegetation type at any hierarchical level, according to any system |
| Stand Age | Estimated or measured stand age, usually for longer-lived communities and measured in years |
| Successional Stage | Description of the stage in an ecological succession (like pioneer stage or terminal stage) |
| Phenological Status | Stage of the plant community at the time of observation (with respect to an annual cycle) |
Surface cover
| * Live plants (%) | Projected cover of all green foliage, living stems and exposed roots (up to 100%) |
| * Bare Ground (%) | Percent of exposed bare ground not covered by leaf litter(includes bare soil, bare rock and rock gravel) |
| Bare Soil (%) | Percent of exposed bare soil (not covered by leaf litter, vegetation or cryptogams) |
| Bare Rock (%) | Percent of exposed bare rocks. |
| * Litter (%) | Percent of ground covered by leaf litter (includes lying deadwood if not measured separately) |
| Moribund (%) | Standing dead, non-woody plants |
| Standing Deadwood (%) | Percent of standing deadwood. This includes all dead trunks that are not lying on the ground. |
| Lying Deadwood (%) | Percent of ground covered by downed logs, generally >10cm in diameter. Downed logs covered in moss are counted |
| Open Water (%) | Percent of open water at the time of plot observation |
| Live Vascular (%) | Projected cover of live vascular plants at the time of plot observation |
| Live Non-Vascular (%) | Projected cover of live non-vascular plants at the time of plot observation |
Site observations
| Drainage | Good, moderate, poor drainage. |
| Humus Type | Term characterizing the humus category, like Mor, Moder, Mull for less disturbed soils. |
| Soil Type | Name of the soil, usually as a category according to some soil classification (like the World Reference Base for Soil Resources) |
| Soil Depth (m) | Measure of the depth of the soil. |
| Soil Texture | Description of the mineral soil relating to sand, silt and clay contents (loamy sand, sandy loam, loam etc.) |
| Rock Type | Type of rocks underlying the soil, like limestone, granite etc. |
Legal status, land use and management
| Habitat (two fields available) | Term describing the habitat type, usually as a category according to some closed list (like in annex I of the European Habitat Directive) |
| Legal Status 1 | Term denoting a level of protection of the area (like Wilderness Area, National Park, Natura 2000 site) |
| Legal Status 2 | Term denoting a level of protection of the area (like Wilderness Area, National Park, Natura 2000 site) |
| Land Use | Land use categories like managed forest, pasture, arable field |
| Management | Management regime like mowing frequence or prescribed burning |
| Fertilization | Description of any atificial fertilization measures |
Literature source
| Source Reference | Literature source of this data set (sometimes used when digitizing old sources) |
| Source Table | Table in a publication containing this data set (sometimes used when digitizing old sources) |
| Source Plot | Plot ID in a publication containing this data set( sometimes used when digitizing old sources) |
Legal
| License | Copyright permissions to use the data. Tapping on this field opens a picklist with some frequently used options ranging from "All rights reserved" to "Public Domain". More detail is given on the Creative Commons website. |
| Terms of use | Terms including, for example, attribution required by the license. Ensures licensors get credit for their work |
| Owner Givenname | Licensor's given name |
| Owner Surname | Licensor's surname |
| Owner Organization | In case of the licensor being an institution it can be named here |
Remarks
| * Remarks | For example a site description and a stand description |
* Attribute visible by default
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