This document summarizes the validation of phenology products from the AusCover Phenocam Network. The network uses tower-mounted cameras to capture plant phenology and validate satellite-derived phenology. Comparisons between camera and MODIS satellite data show correlations between greenness indices. The network aims to improve understanding of seasonal vegetation dynamics and carbon/water fluxes at flux tower sites across Australia.

1. Australian Phenology
Product Validation:
Phenocam Network
Natalia Restrepo-Coupe and Alfredo Huete
University Technology of Sydney
AusCover Sydney Phenology Node
Kevin Davies, Michael Liddell, Nicolas Weigand, Craig.Macfarlane, John
Byrne , Victor Resco de Dios, Matthias Boer, Chelsea Maier, Nicolas
Boulain, James Cleverly, Derek Eamus, Georgia Koerber, and Wayne S
Meyer

2. Introduction
Phenology – definition and how it is characterized with the use of RS
products (VIs)
AusCover at the UTS Sydney node:
Phenology product: applications in conservation, aerobiology, LSM inputs
Land Surface Temperature product
Disturbance product

3. Objective: Validation Phenology Product
AusCover UTS Sydney node
Validation of the phenology product
Link between the in-situ measurement and the remote sensing community
(this is study is conducted in collaboration with Ozflux tower PIs).
Site-specific support to the flux tower data collection (symbiosis)
Contribute to the understanding of water and carbon flux seasonal cycles
(personal objective)

4. Objective: Validation Phenology Product
AusCover UTS Sydney node
Modified
from
Ma,
X.,
et
al.,
2013.

5. Methods: Flux towers
Ma,
X.,
et
al.,
2013.
Spa7al
pa8erns
and
temporal
dynamics
in
savanna
vegeta7on
phenology
across
the
North
Australian
Tropical
Transect.
Remote
Sens.
Environ.
139,
97–115.
doi:10.1016/j.rse.2013.07.030

6. Methods: Phenocam Network
Phenological
Eyes
Network

7. Methods: Phenocams
AusCover Good Practice Guidelines (A technical handbook supporting
calibration and validation activities of remotely sensed data products)
Chapter 8. Phenology Validation
Literature review
Different methods
Phenocams
Our experience
Our approach to instrument set-up, data collection and processing

8. Methods: Phenocams
Phenocams :
• RGB and spectral cameras
• Orientation, angles, azimuths
• Over- and understory
• Diurnal, daily, and seasonal settings, including frequency of observations
(e.g. 30 minutes)
• Camera settings, integration times, F-stop, etc.
• Use of White/Gray references
• Computation Red/Green (RGB) and NIR/Red ratios (spectral) with and
without use of reference
Our method is designed to support the following working hypothesis…

9. Working hypothesis
Use of tower mounted phenocam imagery of whole-canopy and tree and
understory layer vegetation to trace and evaluate the satellite phenology
profile (e.g. both measures should provide a similar start of green-up and
peak at same time, etc.).
Assessment of satellite phenology product accuracies in depicting the
timing of seasonal vegetation dynamics, phenophases, and other
transitional dates in time and space (cross-site).
Phenocams have the potential to assess and partition seasonality of the
tree layer, grass layer, and whole-canopy.
Whether the change in signal is attributed to more leaves, greener
leaves, younger-leaves, or some combination.
Although, a mechanistic understanding of phenology drivers is not a direct
requirement of validation, it does enable up-scaling of point-based phenology
to landscapes.

10. ALICE SPRINGS
CHOWILLA
ZIG ZAG
GINGIN CUMBERLAND
PLAINS
CREDO
SE QUEENSLAND
SUPERSITE
Mean annual precipitation (mm/month)
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data (NASA, 2013)
DISCOVERY CENTER
ROBSON CREEK
DAINTREE
Phenocam
Network
Methods: Budget
We do not mind replication
We adapt our protocol to the
site (Natalia open the protocol)
http://data.auscover.org.au/
xwiki/bin/view/Teams/
GoodPracticeHanbook

11. Phenocam Network Objectives: Site specific
ALICE SPRINGS
CHOWILLA
ZIG ZAG
GINGIN CUMBERLAND
PLAINS
CREDO
SE QUEENSLAND
SUPERSITE
Special thanks to Dr. M Liddell and N. Weigand
DISCOVERY CENTER
ROBSON CREEK
DAINTREE

12. Phenocam Network Objectives: Site specific
ALICE SPRINGS
CHOWILLA
ZIG ZAG
GINGIN CUMBERLAND
PLAINS
CREDO
SE QUEENSLAND
SUPERSITE
Special thanks to Dr. V Resco de Dios, Matthias Boer and Chelsea Maier
Natalia open
document about
Cumberland

13. Phenocam Network Objectives: Site specific
ALICE SPRINGS
CHOWILLA
ZIG ZAG
GINGIN CUMBERLAND
PLAINS
CREDO
SE QUEENSLAND
SUPERSITE
Special thanks to Prof D. Chittleborough, Prof W. Meyer, Dr. G. Whiteman and T. Luckbe

14. Phenocam Network Objectives: Site specific
ALICE SPRINGS
CHOWILLA
ZIG ZAG
GINGIN CUMBERLAND
PLAINS
CREDO
SE QUEENSLAND
SUPERSITE
Special thanks to Dr. J. Cleverly, Dr. N Boulain, R Faux, Dr. N. Grant and Prof Derek Eamus

15. Alice Springs Mulga, NT
Wingscapes
Alice Springs Mulga, NT
Campbell Sci cameras
Phenocam Network:
Sensor Comparison

16. Phenocam
Network:
Camera
Calibration
Figure 1. Relationship between camera
incoming radiation (x-axis) and the raw output
signal (DN) for a Spectralon white panel in 6
bands: Red (centered at wavelengths of 655),
Green (555), NIR (857), Blue (460) and
wavebands 923 and 728. Camera settings: f-
stop 5.6, gain =1 and integration time = 15.
Digital number DN for non calibrated images. An
incident PAR a light meter (umol m-2 s-1) was
used to guide the experiment.

17. Phenocam
Network:
Linking RGB
indices to
physiological
response Red/Green
2
1.5
1
0.5
Wet Dry Mulga site biological
crust (>50%
Cyanobacteria) Green/
Red response after
wetting (1.57 mm).
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Time (hours)
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
Red/Green
Riverbed/Red Gum
site biological crust
(>50% Moss) Green/
Red response after
wetting (1.57 mm).
Special thanks to J. Jamieson, Dr
N. Boulain, and Dr A. Leight
Wet

18. Calperum-Chowilla Flux Tower Site
25-Oct-2012 12:00:00 Red/Green
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Rainfall(mm)
0
20
40
04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01
0.8
1.2
1.6
Red/Green
Grasses Shrubs Salt Bush Soil Biological Crust Soil
Understory camera

19. 04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 11/01
0.8
1.2
1.6
Red/GreenPhenocams
1
1.3
1.6
Red/GreenMODIS
04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 11/01
0.95
1.1
1.25
Red/GreenPhenocams
1.2
1.4
1.6
Red/GreenMODIS
Calperum-Chowilla (CHO) RGB understory camera
MODIS reflectances (Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function, BRDF model MCD43A4)
Grasses Shrubs Salt Bush Soil Biological Crust Soil
MODIS All image (green) Mean Grass, Shrubs, Salt Bush
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1.1
1.15
1.2
1.25
1.3
R/G
MODIS
=0.09195 R/G
cam
+1.06
p=0.0048 r2=0.24
R/GMODIS
R/Gcam
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
0.9
1
1.1
R/G
MODIS
=0.25 R/G
cam green
+0.704
p=0.0014 r2=0.3
R/GMODIS
R/Gcamgreen

20. 04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 11/01
0.8
0.925
1.05
Green/RedPhenocams
0.1
0.2
0.3
EVIMODIS
04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 11/01
0.8
0.925
1.05
Green/RedPhenocams
0.2
0.4
0.6
NDVIMODIS
All image (green) Mean Grass, Shrubs, Salt Bush
MODIS
Calperum-Chowilla (CHO) RGB understory camera
MODIS vegetation indices (MOD13) 16-day product linearly resampled to 8-day
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
1.1
1.15
1.2
1.25
1.3
R/G
MODIS
=-0.3744 R/G
cam
+1.26
p=0.0011 r2=0.31
EVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
0.9
1
1.1
R/G
MODIS
=-1.403 R/G
cam
+1.33
p=0.00062 r2=0.34
EVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
1.1
1.15
1.2
1.25
1.3
R/G
MODIS
=-0.0956 R/G
cam green
+1.23
p=0.019 r2=0.18
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
0.9
1
1.1
R/G
MODIS
=-0.272 R/G
cam green
+1.16
p=0.0099 r2=0.21
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
Dropinactivity
Riseinactivity
Green/Red (instead of Red/Green)

21. 0
0.5
1
1.5
Rainfall(mm)
0
20
04/01 07/01 10/01 01/01
1.1
1.2
1.3
Red/Green
--- WindowSE--- WindowW--- WindowS
Calperum-Chowilla Flux Tower Site
06-Mar-2013 10:00:00 Red/Green
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
ainfall(mm)
20
1.2
1.3
ed/Green
--- WindowSE--- WindowW--- WindowS
2012 2013
Tower nadir camera

22. 01-Feb-2012 11:00:0001-Feb-2012 11:00:00
01-Feb-2012 11:00:00
Eucalyptus window
Window EWindow W
Window S

23. 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=-0.4369 R/G
cam
+1.35
p=0.0016 r2=0.21
EVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=-0.1372 R/G
cam green
+1.32
p=0.00042 r2=0.25
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcam
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=0.07184 R/G
cam
+1.17
p=0.01 r2=0.14
R/GMODIS
R/Gcam
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
1.1
1.3
1.5
Red/GreenPhenocams
1.2
1.4
1.6
Red/GreenMODIS
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
0.75
0.8
0.85
Green/RedPhenocams
0.1
0.2
0.3
EVIMODIS
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
0.75
0.8
0.85
Green/RedPhenocams
0.2
0.4
0.6
NDVIMODIS
Window E
Window S
Window W
MODIS
Mean all windows
MODIS
Mean all windows
MODIS

24. 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
1
1.05
1.1
1.15
1.2
R/G
MODIS
=-0.6335 R/G
cam
+1.21
p=1.5e-05 r2=0.36
EVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
1
1.05
1.1
1.15
1.2
R/G
MODIS
=-0.1914 R/G
cam green
+1.16
p=7.6e-06 r2=0.38
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=-0.4369 R/G
cam
+1.35
p=0.0016 r2=0.21
EVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=-0.1372 R/G
cam green
+1.32
p=0.00042 r2=0.25
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcam
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
0.85
0.925
1
Green/RedPhenocams
0.1
0.2
0.3
EVIMODIS
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
0.85
0.925
1
Green/RedPhenocams
0.2
0.4
0.6
NDVIMODIS
Green vegetation window
Red/Green
Eucalyptus window
MODIS
Green/Red (instead of Red/Green)

25. 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1.2
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=0.07184 R/G
cam
+1.17
p=0.01 r2=0.14
R/GMODIS
R/Gcam
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1
1.05
1.1
1.15
1.2
R/G
MODIS
=0.1291 R/G
cam green
+0.903
p=1.6e-05 r2=0.36
R/GMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
1.15
1.275
1.4
Red/GreenPhenocams
1.2
1.4
1.6
Red/GreenMODIS
F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
1.03
1.08
1.13
Red/GreenPhenocams
1.2
1.4
1.6
Red/GreenMODIS
Window E
Window S
Window W
MODIS
Eucalyptus
window
MODIS

26. GinGin Flux Tower Site
14-May-2012 16:33:00 Red/Green
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Rainfall(mm)
0
10
20
06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 11/01
0
0.5
1
Red/Green
--- Banskia01
--- Banskia02
--- Schrub
--- Litter
--- Soil
Tower nadir camera

27. 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
R/G
MODIS
=0.9572 R/G
cam
+-0.0733
p=0.00091 r2=0.37
R/GMODIS
R/Gcam
0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
R/G
MODIS
=2.32 R/G
cam green
+-1.64
p=0.0001 r2=0.47
R/GMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
All image
(green) Mean Banskia01, Banskia01, Shrubs
MODIS
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
0
0.5
1Red/GreenPhenocams
0.8
0.95
1.1
Red/GreenMODIS
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
0.4
0.7
1
Red/GreenPhenocams
0.9
1
1.1
Red/GreenMODIS

28. Green/Red (instead of Red/Green)
0.2 0.25 0.3
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
R/G
MODIS
=-3.54 R/G
cam
+1.78
p=5.9e-05 r2=0.5
EVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.2 0.25 0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
R/G
MODIS
=-6.757 R/G
cam
+2.37
p=2e-05 r2=0.54
EVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
0.4 0.5 0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
R/G
MODIS
=-0.645 R/G
cam green
+1.24
p=1.3e-05 r2=0.55
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.4 0.5 0.6
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
R/G
MODIS
=-1.507 R/G
cam green
+1.51
p=1.6e-05 r2=0.55
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
1
1.6
2.2
Green/RedPhenocams
0.2
0.25
0.3
EVIMODIS
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
1
1.6
2.2
Green/RedPhenocams
0.4
0.6
0.8
NDVIMODISAll image
(green) Mean Banskia01, Banskia01, Shrubs
MODIS

29. 2012 2013
Understory camera
Low density
Alice Springs Mulga Flux Tower Site
15-Oct-2012 14:00:00 Red/Green
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Rainfall(mm)
0
11
22
S N D J F M A M J J A S O
1
1.4
1.8
Red/Green
--- Grass01
--- Grass02 --- Acacia
--- Litter
--- Crust

30. 0.1 0.12 0.14
1.3
1.35
1.4
1.45
R/G
MODIS
=102.8 R/G
cam
+-9.46
p=0.62 r2
=0.032
EVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.1 0.12 0.14
1.3
1.4
1.5
R/G
MODIS
=191 R/G
cam
+-18.8
p=0.66 r2
=0.026
EVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
0.25 0.3 0.35
1.3
1.35
1.4
1.45
R/G
MODIS
=10.03 R/G
cam green
+-1.08
p=0.15 r2=0.24
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcam
0.25 0.3 0.35
1.3
1.4
1.5
R/G
MODIS
=13.89 R/G
cam green
+-2.05
p=0.068 r2=0.36
NDVIMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
S12 D12 F13 A13 J13 A13 O13
0.6
0.7
0.8
Green/RedPhenocams
0.1
0.11
0.12
EVIMODIS
S12 D12 F13 A13 J13 A13 O13
0.6
0.7
0.8
Green/RedPhenocams
0.2
0.25
0.3
NDVIMODISAll image
(green) Mean Acacia, Grass01, Grass02
MODIS

31. 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
1.2
1.3
1.4
R/G
MODIS
=0.5382 R/G
cam
+0.444
p=0.42 r2=0.11
R/GMODIS
R/Gcam
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
R/G
MODIS
=0.6175 R/G
cam green
+0.254
p=0.35 r2=0.15
R/GMODIS
R/Gcamgreen
S12 D12 F13 A13 J13 A13 O13
1
1.3
1.6
Red/GreenPhenocams
0.8
1.3
1.8
Red/GreenMODIS
S12 D12 F13 A13 J13 A13 O13
1
1.4
1.8
Red/GreenPhenocams
1.6
1.7
1.8
Red/GreenMODIS
All image
(green) Mean Acacia, Grass01, Grass02
MODIS