Size and shape of sampling units for geostatistical analysis in a forest fragment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4336/2026.pfb.46e202502335Keywords:
Ordinary kriging, Forest inventory, SemivarianceAbstract
The appropriate selection of sampling units ensures accurate estimates in forest inventories. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify the influence of the size and shape of sampling units on the spatial dependence structure of basal area and volume in a small forest fragment. Data were collected from a census in an area of 2.2 hectares, measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height (Ht) of all trees with DBH ≥ 5 cm. Twenty-one sampling arrangements were simulated using the fixed-area and systematic distribution method, with a sampling intensity of 15%. Circular, rectangular, and square shapes were evaluated, varying in size between 100 and 1,000 m2. For each arrangement, the experimental semivariogram was analyzed, followed by fitting of Gaussian, Exponential, and Spherical theoretical models, applying ordinary kriging to spatialize the variables. Circular sampling units between 300 and 600 m2 with a systematically distribution ensured the capture of spatial dependence for basal area and volume, allowing the use of ordinary kriging, whereas square units failed to detect spatial dependence. Thus, the choice of size and shape of sampling units influences the spatial dependence of the variables, enabling greater reliability without increasing costs through higher sampling intensity.
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