Science cluster
Summary
Plant phenology is the seasonal progression of plant activity through stages of dormancy, active growth, senescence, and back to dormancy (Richardson et al. 2018). It is a key ecological parameter directly related to ecosystem processes and ecosystems-climate relations (Penuelas et al, 2009) and impacted by climate change and consequently linked to carbon and water cycles at ecosystem scale (Linderholm 2006). The project Open and FAIR Integrated Phenology Monitoring System aims to revolutionise the monitoring of plant phenology of terrestrial ecosystems through the design, development, and testing of an innovative phenological camera, coupled with a comprehensive post-processing software platform using open science and FAIR data practices. The project seeks to overcome traditional monitoring limitations, thereby enhancing data interoperability and accessibility for researchers, journalists, and the general public alike.
Challenge
Open Science project, Open Science Service, Industry cooperation, Citizen science, Main RI concerned, Cross-domain/Cross-RI
Despite the recognised significance of plant phenology - underscored by its classification as an Essential Biodiversity Variable - traditional monitoring methods often rely on infrequent visual observations, leading to challenges in data sharing and interoperability. Although advancements in satellite and remote sensing have facilitated large-scale monitoring, the current European PhenoCam network relies on a specific commercial camera (StarDot NetCam SC5) that is not updated to the new standard protocols, and is no longer produced. This hinders long-term data collection and compromises the quality of digital data flow. There is a strong need for a clear standard protocol, the optimisation of the processing routines for a Real Time phenology calculation, and the FAIR principle implementation to link images to the final product and all the metadata needed.
Solution
The project aims to solve these main issues by supporting and promoting the implementation of the Phenocam measurements and an open science service to produce open access and FAIR phenology observations. It will do so by designing and developing a new phenological camera that operates on open protocols, thus providing detailed build-up instructions for potential industrial production. This camera will ensure the longevity and adaptability of monitoring efforts. Secondly, the project will implement a full data cycle, from the images quality evaluation to the final products, with special care about the FAIR principles and full metadata provision, to meet the standards required by Research Infrastructures (RIs). The processing procedures will be integrated into the ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Centre, connected to the ICOS Carbon Portal to serve both research RIs and interested citizens.
Scientific Impact
The project will integrate the lessons learned in the phenology monitoring activities, as well as the knowledge of established RIs, such as ICOS, in data treatment and FAIRness, into an Open Science platform that will help to more easily deploy a network of phenocams across RIs, and offer a centralised and standardised service to create user ready products.
The project results will help to facilitate science through a more easy data findability and accessibility, a continuous update of the results, a Near Real Time provision of the images and derived metrics, and a standardisation and interoperability among the different RIs in ESFRI and with the other international initiatives, while also engaging citizen scientists and educational institutions to foster broader community involvement in phenology research.
Principal investigator
Dario Papale is Associate Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy). His main interests are in ecosystem monitoring, in particular in relation to energy and gases exchanges at ecosystem level. Since 2016 he is the Director of the Ecosystem Thematic Centre of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) ESFRI Research Infrastructure. Involved in several research projects, his current activities focus on the FAIRness improvement in environmental data large and the engagement toward high quality, timely released and open access environmental observations.
