Photopoints Module. In 'Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia'

This module is one of many that form the Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA), available at https://emsa.tern.org.au/documents. The Photopoints Module outlines the steps to take a series of photos of the plot to collect monitoring data. When the photos are taken following the protocols outlined in this module, the photos provide a high-resolution visual reference of the plot at the time of the survey and enable a three-dimensional reconstruction of the plot. This transforms the ‘static’ photos into actual monitoring data able to be interrogated for changes in the plot over time and assessed against management outcomes. The Photopoints Module covers the procedures and guidelines of three protocols for establishing photopoints within the plot:

• DSLR camera panorama protocol – 360° panorama taken at three photopoints located around the plot's centre using a DSLR or high-end mirrorless camera that allows the user to set specific camera and lens settings, including focal length, aperture, and ISO.
• Compact camera panorama protocol – 360° panorama taken at three photopoints located around the centre of the plot using a compact camera without the ability to set all the specific camera and lens settings required of the DSLR panorama protocol.
• Device camera panorama protocol – 360° panorama taken at three photopoints located around the centre of the plot using the Monitor app on a mobile phone or tablet

The Photopoints Module can be conducted in both Core Monitoring Plots and Fauna Plots. All three protocols require identifying the plot centre, marking the plot centre with a star dropper, measuring an equilateral triangle around the centre post to identify the locations of the three photopoints, and taking a series of photos to create a 360° panorama. The three protocols only differ in the camera used, and integration of the Monitor app.

The Photopoints Module enables photopoint photos to be processed to provide three-dimensional reconstructions of each plot, which can be used to monitor vegetation change over time to track plot condition and provide an estimation of the basal area at the plot level to estimate biomass. To allow for future three-dimensional reconstruction and generation of the data, three panoramas are collected from three precise photopoint positions (based on an equilateral triangle with sides 2.5 m).