GIS Sampling Design Tool Improves Efficiency, Lowers Costs
Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science recently released a Geographic Information System (GIS) Sampling Design Tool for science planning that improves sampling efficiency by integrating maps at relevant spatial scales into survey designs, while balancing factors such as statistical power, precision and cost. The Tool has two main functions:1) to help select a sample from a population, and 2) to perform sample design analysis. When these functions are combined iteratively, the tool effectively and simply achieves the goal of sample surveys to obtain accurate, high precision estimates of population metrics while minimizing cost. The tool and technical manual can be downloaded from http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/products/biogeography/sampling/.
Related NCCOS Center(s): CCMA
Shorter web link for sharing: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/?p=1918
