Site Configuration and Survey (NESP TWQ 2.1.4, CSIRO)

This dataset contains RTK GPS Data collected between April, 2017 and March, 2018 for 5 paired Control/Treatment gully sites being monitored as part of NESP Project 2.1.4 (Demonstration and evaluation of gully remediation on downstream water quality and agricultural production in GBR rangelands). The key question being asked is “is there measurable improvement in the erosion and water quality leaving remediated gully sites compared to sites left untreated?” The monitoring approach uses a modified BACI (Before after control impact) design.

The data in presented in this metadata are part of a larger collection and are intended to be viewed in the context of the project. For further information on the project, view the parent metadata record: Demonstration and evaluation of gully remediation on downstream water quality and agricultural production in GBR rangelands (NESP TWQ 2.1.4, CSIRO).

Monitoring of these sites is continuing as part of NESP TWQ Project 5.9. Any temporal extensions to this dataset will be linked to from this record.

Methods:

RTK (Real time kinematic) GPS system (Ashtech, ProMark 200), set with a tolerance of +/- 12mm in the horizontal plane and +/- 15mm in the vertical, was used to survey the monitored gullies. The initial location of the base station was determined using a 10-minute average. All permanent infrastructure such as survey markers, fences, and instrumentation. Gully features such as headcut rims, long sections and cross sections (at key locations such as near instrumentation) were captured. Raw GPS data files were converted to text, imported to Excel for attribute assignments, and then imported to ArcGIS for conversion to shapefile format.

Format:

This data collection consists of 5 zip files (one for each paired gully monitoring site). Zip files are named according to the property on which they are located. Each zip file contains two shapefiles with detailed RTK GPS survey data from either 2017 or 2018 for the Control and Treatment gullies. 
Survey point types include Reference markers, gully cross sections, long sections and the gully headcut.

Data Dictionary:

Attributes for each point include Easting (E) and Northing (N)  location info (MGA94 Z55, AHD), descriptive text (Comment), horizontal accuracy  (HRMS), vertical accuracy (VRMS), RTK Fix or Float status (STATUS), Number of satellites (SATS), 3D position dilution of precision (PDOP), horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP), Vertical dilution of precision (VDOP), time and date of survey point(Timestamp), and  Point type (Type).  More information on Dilution of Precision can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilution_of_precision_(navigation)

Point Types include 
REF and BASEREF - Reference markers include permanent survey markers
XSREF - Cross Section Transect markers 
VEGREF - vegetation transect markers 
STRUCTREF) - Structure markers 
INSTRREF - location of instrumentation
TLSREF - Laser scanner permanent markers 
gully cross sections (XS)
LS - long sections 
RIM - headcut rim
RIMNICK - headcut nickpoint

Site_Code used for file names is as follows:
MIV = Minnievale
MV = Meadowvale
MW = Mount Wickham
SB = Strathbogie
VP = Virginia Park
 - Treatment/Control

References:

Bartley, Rebecca; Hawdon, Aaron; Henderson, Anne; Wilkinson, Scott; Goodwin, Nicholas; Abbott, Brett; Baker, Brett; Matthews, Mel; Boadle, David; Jarihani, Ben (Abdollah). Quantifying the effectiveness of gully remediation on off-site water quality: preliminary results from demonstration sites in the Burdekin catchment (second wet season). RRRC: NESP and CSIRO; 2018. csiro:EP184204.

Data Location:

This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\nesp2\2.1.4 Gully-remediation-effectiveness

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network