Simple Grid Sample Design

Simple grid is a 2d initial, systematic aligned grid design. SADA specifies a distance between sample points and uses a random starting point to generate either a square or triangular grid pattern. Triangular grids provide more information spatially than rectangular grids.

This design provides better spatial representation than a random placement and supports a geospatial analysis. The regularized pattern, however, may miss some features such as piping or ditches and the lack of truly random design may have an unknown impact on determining precision of simple statistical values or tests.

Availability

This sample design is available for all SADA files.

Steps

These are the steps that display in the Steps Window when this sample design is selected during the step Set sampling parameters. Click on the links below for more details about the following steps.

1. See the data, Draw/Edit Prior, Display empty plot

2. Set up the site

3. Set GIS overlays

4. Set sampling parameters

5. Show the results

6. Import sampled data

7. Format picture

8. Auto-document

9. Add to results gallery (not available for empty SADA files)

Design-specific Parameters

When Simple Grid is selected during the Set sampling parameters step, the Parameters Window changes to look like the following:

image\v4ht0401.gif

See Design Core samples or Show Ghost Image for an explanation of the core vs. single point sampling options.

If there are polygons, new samples will only be placed inside the active polygons.

Under Number of Samples, select the appropriate method. See Determining the Number of Samples for more information.

Under Random Seed, enter a number to generate the same random design. If the random seed is blank, SADA will generate a distinct random design each time.

Under Grid Style, select square or triangular.

Press Show the Results on the Steps Window and SADA will display the sample locations in the Graphics Window.

image\v4ht0402.gif

Note: Often this sample design will not return the exact number of desired samples due to constraints from the square grid type, the layering scheme, and the extents of the area.

To view the actual coordinates of the new sample points export the information to a comma delimited excel file by using the Output to File toolbar button in main form of SADA.