NCGS monitoring-visit questions

Pre-release. This site describes standard version 0.7.0-dev, which is in development and may change before version 1.0.0.

The fieldworker form for a monitoring visit: one observation per tree at a declared horizon.

What it captures

• Activity type: Monitoring visit
• Produces: Monitoring visit record, Tree observation, Tree state, Evidence item

Questions

Monitoring visit record

• Which site is this about? (required)
  • The site being visited.
  • Help: Pick it from the site list. Every tree planted here is either recorded below or counted as not found.
• Which planned monitoring visit is this? (required)
  • The monitoring visit activity this record belongs to.
  • Help: Usually today’s planned visit to this site.
• Which activity type is being recorded on this visit? (required)
  • The type of activity, here a monitoring visit.
  • Help: Choose monitoring visit. It limits which measures are listed next.
• Which indicator is this monitoring visit collecting evidence for? (required)
  • The measure in the standard that this visit collects data for.
  • Help: Select the indicator required by the monitoring plan from the list for this activity.
• Which approved methodology are you following for this indicator? (required)
  • The approved method used to collect the data.
  • Help: Only methods approved for the chosen measure are listed.
• Which monitoring horizon after planting is this visit for? (T1, T2, …)
  • The planned checkpoint after planting that this visit counts for.
  • Help: Use the monitoring plan and the time since planting: T1 is 21–28 days and T2 is 60–120 days. Leave empty if the visit is outside every horizon window; it is kept as unscheduled and excluded from survival rates.
  • Choices: NCGS Observation Horizons: T0 baseline, T0+ post-handover check, T1 four weeks, T2 early establishment, T3 one year, T4 two to three years, T5 five years and beyond
• Did you speak to the steward or owner during this visit? (required)
  • Whether the steward or owner was spoken to, so the reported care answers came from them.
  • Help: If not, leave the watering, compost and pruning questions empty.
• Record an observation for each tree you can check on this visit. (required)
  • One entry per tree reached.
  • Help: Leave out a tree you cannot find or reach; it remains unobserved, not assumed dead. If you can identify the recorded position and confirm an empty hole, record that observation and photograph it.
• Who made this observation? (filled automatically) (required)
  • The person who made this record.
  • Help: Filled in from your login.
• In which role did you make this observation? (required)
  • The capacity in which you observed.
  • Help: Filled in from your enrolment.
  • Choices: NCGS Observer Roles: Fieldworker, Supervisor, Steward, Owner, Reviewer
• Date and time recorded (filled automatically) (required)
  • When the visit was recorded.
  • Help: Filled in automatically.
• Capture-device latitude (decimal degrees) (required)
  • Device latitude at capture.
  • Help: Filled in automatically from the device location when this record is saved.
• Capture-device longitude (decimal degrees) (required)
  • Device longitude at capture.
  • Help: Filled in automatically from the device location when this record is saved.
• How was this information first recorded? (required)
  • How this was captured.
  • Help: Choose the original capture method. If you are now entering a paper form, choose paper rather than the app used to transcribe it.
  • Choices: NCGS Capture Channels: Dedicated app, WhatsApp flow, Paper, transcribed

Tree observation

• Which tree is this? (required)
  • The planted tree being checked.
  • Help: Find it by its tag number or position in the list.
• Time this tree was checked (required)
  • When this tree was observed.
  • Help: Filled in automatically.
• Record the state of this tree at the time of this visit. (required)
  • The tree’s state at this visit.
  • Help: Answer the questions below about the tree as you find it today.
• Take a photo of the tree as you found it. (required)
  • Observation photograph: a photo of the tree as you found it.
  • Help: A new photo of this tree, taken now with location on.
• Any other photo or document (optional).
  • Any other photo or document of this observation.
  • Help: Any other photo or document of this observation.

Tree state

• Is this the same tree that was planted or handed over?
  • Whether the tree observed is the one recorded at planting or handover.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner, and compare the species with the tree’s record. Answer no if the tree was swapped or replanted after the first one died; skip it for an empty hole.
• Is the tree alive? (required)
  • Whether the tree has any living tissue.
  • Help: Yes if any part is still living. No for a dead tree or an empty hole.
• Is this handed-over tree planted in the ground?
  • For a tree handed over to a household: whether it is in the ground, rather than still in its bag or pot.
  • Help: Only for a tree handed over to a household. Tick yes if it is in the ground, no if it is still in its bag or pot. This is what the T0+ planting check is for.
• If the household planted this tree itself: on what date do they say they planted it?
  • For a tree handed over to a household: the date the household says it was planted.
  • Help: Only for a tree handed over to a household, on the first visit after handover. Ask the owner. Leave blank if the tree is not yet planted or the date is not known. This date is recorded only; the tree’s horizons still count from the handover date.
• What condition is the tree in? (required)
  • The tree’s overall health at this visit.
  • Help: Choose dead only if the tree is not alive.
  • Choices: NCGS Tree Conditions: Thriving, Some signs of stress, Serious signs of stress, Significant pest damage, Dead
• What most likely killed the tree?
  • The most likely reason the tree died.
  • Help: Only for a dead tree; leave empty for a living one. Ask the steward or owner what happened, then give your best judgement.
  • Choices: NCGS Causes of Death: Animal damage, Disease, Termites, Other insects, Too little or too much water, Frost, Removed, vandalised or stolen, Other or unknown
• When did the steward or owner first see that the tree was not doing well?
  • When the steward or owner first noticed that the dead tree was not thriving.
  • Help: Only for a dead tree. Ask the steward or owner; count from the day it was planted.
  • Choices: NCGS Decline Onsets: In the first week, In the second week, After two weeks, Not known
• How well is the soil around the tree covered with mulch?
  • Mulch around the tree.
  • Help: Look at the soil within about half a metre of the stem.
  • Choices: NCGS Mulch Cover: Well covered, Some mulch, not well covered, No mulch
• What does the ground around the tree look like?
  • The ground around the tree as found.
  • Help: If the tree is dead and no longer in its hole, choose that option.
  • Choices: NCGS Hole and Mound States: Raised soil border or ridge, Flat, no soil border, Slightly below ground level, Stands in a deep hole, Stands on a soil mound, Dead tree no longer in the hole
• Is the soil beside this tree stem moist to the touch?
  • Is the soil around the tree moist?
  • Help: Push a finger into the soil to check.
• Is the stem painted white?
  • Is the stem painted white?
  • Help: Look at the lower stem; faded paint counts if you can still see it. Leave empty if the tree is no longer in its hole.
• How often is the tree watered?
  • How often the tree is watered, as reported.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner how often they usually water it.
  • Choices: NCGS Watering Frequencies: More than once a week, Once a week, Once every two weeks, Never
• How much water does this tree receive per watering? (litre range)
  • How much water per watering, as reported.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner and select the matching litre range. If they answer in buckets, use the known bucket capacity to estimate litres. Leave empty if the tree is never watered.
  • Choices: NCGS Watering Volumes: Less than 20 litres (under one bucket), 20 to 40 litres (one to two buckets), More than 40 litres (over two buckets)
• Where does the water for this tree come from?
  • Where the water comes from.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner if you are not sure.
  • Choices: NCGS Water Sources: Municipal tap, Borehole, Rainwater tank, Tank filled by truck, Household greywater, River, dam or stream, Not watered, Other
• What other water source is used?
  • Only if the answer was Other: the water source, in the respondent’s words.
  • Help: Complete only if you selected Other for the water source. Record the source in the respondent’s own words, using at least two characters.
• Has the tree had compost, manure or fertiliser since the last visit?
  • Fertilised or composted since the last visit.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner.
• Has the tree been pruned since the last visit?
  • Pruned since the last visit.
  • Help: Ask the steward or owner, or look for fresh cuts.
• What signs of pests or damage do you see on the tree?
  • Pests or damage agents seen on the tree.
  • Help: Tick every cause you see signs of.
  • Choices: NCGS Pests and Damage Agents: Water stress damage, Disease, Insects, including termites, Domestic animals, Wild animals, Birds, Other damage agent
• What is the width of the tree canopy at its widest point? (m)
  • Widest canopy span in metres, where measurable.
  • Help: Measure straight across the spread of the branches. Record metres; collect only when the canopy can be measured, usually from T3.
• What is the canopy width at right angles to its widest span? (m)
  • Canopy span at right angles to the widest, in metres.
  • Help: Measure straight across the spread of the branches at 90 degrees to the first measurement, in metres.
• What is the diameter of the tree stem at 1.3 m above ground? (cm)
  • Stem diameter at 1.3 m, in centimetres, once the tree is tall enough.
  • Help: Record diameter, not circumference, in centimetres. Complete only when the tree is taller than 1.3 m.

Evidence item

• What this item is: a photograph of the tree (fixed by the form). (required)
  • What this item is: tree-photo, fixed by the instrument.
  • Help: The form fixes this; nothing to answer.
  • Choices: NCGS Evidence Types: Tree photograph
• Take the photo. (required)
  • The photo, kept by its content address.
  • Help: Use the camera.
• Photo latitude (from the photo)
  • Latitude of the place the photograph was taken, as recorded with it.
  • Help: Filled in from the location you capture after the photo.
• Photo longitude (from the photo)
  • Longitude of the place the photograph was taken, as recorded with it.
  • Help: Filled in from the location you capture after the photo.

Evidence item

• What does this photo or document show? (required)
  • What this photo or document is. Each form’s own rules say which types it needs.
  • Help: Pick one for each file you add.
  • Choices: NCGS Evidence Types: Site photograph, Tree photograph, Ground-cover photograph, Stock photograph, Nursery delivery note, Recipient acknowledgement, Attendance register, Site agreement, On-screen signature, Recorded consent, Agreement notice, Interview notes, Report, Ledger export
• Scan the QR sticker you put on the document.
  • The UUID on the QR sticker put on a paper document, so the office’s later scan can be linked to this photo.
  • Help: Only for a document: stick a new QR sticker on its first page before you photograph it. The office scans the whole document later.
• Take the photo. (required)
  • The photo, kept by its content address.
  • Help: Use the camera. For a document, photograph its first page with its QR sticker showing.
• Photo latitude (from the photo)
  • Latitude of the place the photograph was taken, as recorded with it.
  • Help: Filled in from the location you capture after the photo.
• Photo longitude (from the photo)
  • Longitude of the place the photograph was taken, as recorded with it.
  • Help: Filled in from the location you capture after the photo.

Build your own instrument

Instrument	NCGS monitoring visit form (the standard’s generated form)
standard release	0.7.0-dev
submission identifier field	KEY
export timezone	+02:00
links survey layer	yes

Downloads: form-fields.csv, form-choices.csv

Record structure

• record: Monitoring visit record
  • Fixed answer: How was this information first recorded?: Dedicated app
  • record.hasObservation: Tree observation; via question: Record an observation for each tree you can check on this visit.; source group: record.hasObservation
    • record.hasObservation.hasEvidence: Evidence item; via question: Any other photo or document (optional).; source group: record.hasObservation.hasEvidence
    • record.hasObservation.hasSubject: Tree state; via question: Record the state of this tree at the time of this visit.
    • record.hasObservation.observationPhoto: Evidence item; via question: Take a photo of the tree as you found it.
      • Fixed answer: What this item is: a photograph of the tree (fixed by the form).: Tree photograph

Fields

Field	Type	Group	Question	Personal or media	Resolved by
record.activityType	picker		Which activity type is being recorded on this visit?
record.appliesMethodology	picker		Which approved methodology are you following for this indicator?
record.declaredHorizon	select_one record.declaredHorizon		Which monitoring horizon after planting is this visit for? (T1, T2, …)
record.deviceLatitude	decimal		Capture-device latitude (decimal degrees)
record.deviceLongitude	decimal		Capture-device longitude (decimal degrees)
record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.contentCid	file	record.hasObservation.hasEvidence	Take the photo.	media field
record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.documentTag	string	record.hasObservation.hasEvidence	Scan the QR sticker you put on the document.
record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.evidenceType	select_one record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.evidenceType	record.hasObservation.hasEvidence	What does this photo or document show?
record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.photoLatitude	decimal	record.hasObservation.hasEvidence	Photo latitude (from the photo)
record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.photoLongitude	decimal	record.hasObservation.hasEvidence	Photo longitude (from the photo)
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.alive	boolean	record.hasObservation	Is the tree alive?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.canopyLongAxisM	decimal	record.hasObservation	What is the width of the tree canopy at its widest point? (m)
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.canopyShortAxisM	decimal	record.hasObservation	What is the canopy width at right angles to its widest span? (m)
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.causeOfDeath	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.causeOfDeath	record.hasObservation	What most likely killed the tree?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.condition	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.condition	record.hasObservation	What condition is the tree in?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.dbhCm	decimal	record.hasObservation	What is the diameter of the tree stem at 1.3 m above ground? (cm)
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.declineNoticed	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.declineNoticed	record.hasObservation	When did the steward or owner first see that the tree was not doing well?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.fertilised	boolean	record.hasObservation	Has the tree had compost, manure or fertiliser since the last visit?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.holeState	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.holeState	record.hasObservation	What does the ground around the tree look like?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.inGround	boolean	record.hasObservation	Is this handed-over tree planted in the ground?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.mulchCover	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.mulchCover	record.hasObservation	How well is the soil around the tree covered with mulch?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.pestObserved	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.pestObserved	record.hasObservation	What signs of pests or damage do you see on the tree?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.pruned	boolean	record.hasObservation	Has the tree been pruned since the last visit?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.reportedPlantingDate	date	record.hasObservation	If the household planted this tree itself: on what date do they say they planted it?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.sameTreeAsRecorded	boolean	record.hasObservation	Is this the same tree that was planted or handed over?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.soilMoist	boolean	record.hasObservation	Is the soil beside this tree stem moist to the touch?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.stemPaintObserved	boolean	record.hasObservation	Is the stem painted white?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.waterSource	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.waterSource	record.hasObservation	Where does the water for this tree come from?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.waterSourceOther	string	record.hasObservation	What other water source is used?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringFrequency	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringFrequency	record.hasObservation	How often is the tree watered?
record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringVolume	select_one record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringVolume	record.hasObservation	How much water does this tree receive per watering? (litre range)
record.hasObservation.observationPhoto.contentCid	file	record.hasObservation	Take the photo.	media field
record.hasObservation.observationPhoto.photoLatitude	decimal	record.hasObservation	Photo latitude (from the photo)
record.hasObservation.observationPhoto.photoLongitude	decimal	record.hasObservation	Photo longitude (from the photo)
record.hasObservation.observedAt	dateTime	record.hasObservation	Time this tree was checked
record.hasObservation.observedTree	picker	record.hasObservation	Which tree is this?
record.observedAt	dateTime		Date and time recorded (filled automatically)
login	text		Who made this observation? (filled automatically); In which role did you make this observation?	personal field	Agent from the people register; Role from the people register
record.recordsActivity	picker		Which planned monitoring visit is this?
record.recordsSite	picker		Which site is this about?
record.stewardInterviewed	boolean		Did you speak to the steward or owner during this visit?
record.targetsIndicator	picker		Which indicator is this monitoring visit collecting evidence for?

Personal field: True when the field’s value is personal data (a login, a name, a phone number): the survey layer records that the question was answered and never the answer (ADR-0007).

Choices

record.declaredHorizon

Value	Label	Maps to
horizon-t0	horizon-t0	T0 baseline
horizon-t0plus	horizon-t0plus	T0+ post-handover check
horizon-t1	horizon-t1	T1 four weeks
horizon-t2	horizon-t2	T2 early establishment
horizon-t3	horizon-t3	T3 one year
horizon-t4	horizon-t4	T4 two to three years
horizon-t5	horizon-t5	T5 five years and beyond

record.hasObservation.hasEvidence.evidenceType

Value	Label	Maps to
site-photo	site-photo	Site photograph
tree-photo	tree-photo	Tree photograph
ground-cover-photo	ground-cover-photo	Ground-cover photograph
stock-photo	stock-photo	Stock photograph
delivery-note	delivery-note	Nursery delivery note
recipient-acknowledgement	recipient-acknowledgement	Recipient acknowledgement
attendance-register	attendance-register	Attendance register
site-agreement-document	site-agreement-document	Site agreement
on-screen-signature	on-screen-signature	On-screen signature
recorded-consent	recorded-consent	Recorded consent
agreement-notice	agreement-notice	Agreement notice
interview-notes	interview-notes	Interview notes
report-document	report-document	Report
database-export	database-export	Ledger export

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.causeOfDeath

Value	Label	Maps to
death-animal	death-animal	Animal damage
death-disease	death-disease	Disease
death-termites	death-termites	Termites
death-insects	death-insects	Other insects
death-water	death-water	Too little or too much water
death-frost	death-frost	Frost
death-removed	death-removed	Removed, vandalised or stolen
death-other	death-other	Other or unknown

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.condition

Value	Label	Maps to
cond-thriving	cond-thriving	Thriving
cond-some-stress	cond-some-stress	Some signs of stress
cond-stress	cond-stress	Serious signs of stress
cond-pests	cond-pests	Significant pest damage
cond-dead	cond-dead	Dead

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.declineNoticed

Value	Label	Maps to
decline-first-week	decline-first-week	In the first week
decline-second-week	decline-second-week	In the second week
decline-later	decline-later	After two weeks
decline-unknown	decline-unknown	Not known

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.holeState

Value	Label	Maps to
hstate-soil-ridge	hstate-soil-ridge	Raised soil border or ridge
hstate-flat	hstate-flat	Flat, no soil border
hstate-slightly-below	hstate-slightly-below	Slightly below ground level
hstate-deep-hole	hstate-deep-hole	Stands in a deep hole
hstate-mound	hstate-mound	Stands on a soil mound
hstate-dead-not-in-hole	hstate-dead-not-in-hole	Dead tree no longer in the hole

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.mulchCover

Value	Label	Maps to
mulch-well-covered	mulch-well-covered	Well covered
mulch-slightly-covered	mulch-slightly-covered	Some mulch, not well covered
mulch-no-cover	mulch-no-cover	No mulch

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.pestObserved

Value	Label	Maps to
pest-water-stress	pest-water-stress	Water stress damage
pest-disease	pest-disease	Disease
pest-insects	pest-insects	Insects, including termites
pest-domestic-animals	pest-domestic-animals	Domestic animals
pest-wild-animals	pest-wild-animals	Wild animals
pest-birds	pest-birds	Birds
pest-other	pest-other	Other damage agent

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.waterSource

Value	Label	Maps to
source-municipal-tap	source-municipal-tap	Municipal tap
source-borehole	source-borehole	Borehole
source-rainwater-tank	source-rainwater-tank	Rainwater tank
source-delivered-tank	source-delivered-tank	Tank filled by truck
source-greywater	source-greywater	Household greywater
source-surface-water	source-surface-water	River, dam or stream
source-none	source-none	Not watered
source-other	source-other

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringFrequency

Value	Label	Maps to
water-more-than-weekly	water-more-than-weekly	More than once a week
water-weekly	water-weekly	Once a week
water-fortnightly	water-fortnightly	Once every two weeks
water-never	water-never	Never

record.hasObservation.hasSubject.wateringVolume

Value	Label	Maps to
volume-under-20l	volume-under-20l	Less than 20 litres (under one bucket)
volume-20-40l	volume-20-40l	20 to 40 litres (one to two buckets)
volume-over-40l	volume-over-40l	More than 40 litres (over two buckets)

This page explains the standard and does not decide conformance: only the released corpus does. It describes dataRequirements/shape2form/monitoring-visit-ui-shapes.ttl, dataRequirements/shape2form/monitoring-visit-annotations.ttl, questionRegister/question-register.jsonld, dataRequirements/instruments/monitoring-visit/mapping.ttl, dataRequirements/instruments/monitoring-visit/form-fields.csv, dataRequirements/instruments/monitoring-visit/form-choices.csv, ontology/ncgs-ontology.ttl at standard version 0.7.0-dev.