RTC Monitoring

Design and Planning using Satellite-derived Habitat Data

Woody Habitat now mapped to high resolution

How do we use that to plan a monitor in just half an hour!

NPCA protocol requirements:

•Map all possum habitat (we assume = woody vegetation)

•Calculate area for total treatment and for individual stratum

•Select lines in the treatment area in a random and unbiased way

This can all be done in GIS, but we need it in digital form:

•Operational and strata boundaries•Possum habitat•Aerial photos (optional)

Owahanga - Aerial and Farmland Stratum

Aerial StratumMan ha = 1362Treat ha= 1306

Aerial StratumMan ha = 1362Treat ha= 1306

OverallMan ha = 4215Treat ha= 2007

OverallMan ha = 4215Treat ha= 2007

Farmland StratumMan ha = 2853Treat ha= 701

Farmland StratumMan ha = 2853Treat ha= 701

NPCA protocol requires a minimum of 10 traps in each stratum

We can get the GIS to generate the required number of random start points inside the stratum treatment area only

Spare lines can be added if required.

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y #Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

Random line origins generated by GIS

ID Easting Northing1 2786243 60451402 2785808 60435423 2785414 60473974 2784546 60483955 2786987 60441916 2786601 60482017 2786671 60487228 2787829 60500609 2789354 6050570

10 2786827 6049423

Optional:Can use photos to draw lines in known habitat.

Alternatively – send field staffout only with line origins.

That’s it! Sampling phase of the planning is complete.

You will still need to identify occupiers and phone numbers, etc.

Advantages of this approach:

•Fast

•Precise

•Unbiased

•Flexible