GRS uses the GRS Densitometer for collecting ground truth and accuracy assessment data in our land cover mapping projects. We continue to expand the use of the point-transect sampling methodology by increasing the type of data we collect. We have found point-transect sampling to be a fast, effective, and accurate method for collecting a wide variety of quantitative vegetation and ecological characteristics. The following sample files contain the raw data and reports from a single transect collected in one of our recent land cover mapping projects Redwood National Park for the National Park Service.
This example transect report demonstrates the types of information that may be derived from point-transect sampling using the GRS Densitometer. Although this sampling method has been primarily used for estimating vegetation and ground cover percentages, a complete ecological condition can be derived by capturing parameters such as canopy position, diameter, species, ground condition, and trace occurrences. This report breaks down the transect summary by canopy layer and also presents forest mensuration characteristics of trees per acre (TPA) and quadratic mean diameter (QMD).
The sample transect data file contains the source data used to generate the Sample Transect Report. These data were collected using the GRS Densitometer to implement the point-transect method of sampling. These data were collected on a handheld field data collector running TransIn software. Of course, transect data can also be collected on field data collection forms or spreadsheets.
The TransIn parameters file contains the species codes and other look-up values for the TransIn data collection software. TransIn is used in conjunction with the GRS Densitometer to collect vegetation data using the point-transect method of field sampling. TransIn runs on any hand-held field computer that is based on the Windows CE operating system.
