sector sampling—synthesis and applications部门sampling-synthesis和应用程序.pdfVIP

Forests 2012, 3, 114-126; doi:10.3390/f3010114 OPEN ACCESS forests ISSN 1999-4907 /journal/forests Review Sector Sampling—Synthesis and Applications Nicholas J. Smith 1,* and Kim Iles 2 1 Nick Smith Forest Consulting, 3332 Kite Way, Nanaimo, BC V9T 3Z2, Canada 2 Kim Iles and Associates, 412 Valley Place, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6A6, Canada; E-Mail: kiles@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: nick.smith@shaw.ca; Tel.: +1-250-327-9931. Received: 7 February 2012; in revised form: 11 March 2012 / Accepted: 15 March 2012 / Published: 20 March 2012 Abstract: Sector sampling is a new and simple approach to sampling objects or borders. This approach would be especially useful for sampling objects in small discrete areas or “polygons” with lots of internal or external edge, but it may be extended to sampling any object regardless of polygon size. Sector plots are wedge-shaped with a fixed sector angle. The probability of object selection is constant and equal to the sector angle in degrees divided by 360°. A unique property of sector sampling is that the point from which the angle originates may be located subjectively when the sector direction is at random. Another advantage over traditional sampling (such as fixed or variable area plots) is that there is no edge effect; that is, there is no altering of selection probabilities of objects close to polygon boundaries. Various approaches are described for derivin