Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Compared to the number of field inventory programs that monitor change in vegetation with
visual cover estimations, very few studies have been conducted to show how accurate this
type of data is. In addition, no previous studies have determined whether efficient calibration
of field observers can improve such data. This study concerns the design and evaluation of a
computer program consisting of images of vegetation on which the true cover of vegetation
has been digitally calculated. The calibration consists of estimation with immediate feedback
of the true cover. The results show that even a short time of calibration greatly improves the
estimations and can also drastically reduce the influence of different backgrounds,
aggregation patterns and personnel experience.