Environmental sampling

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2008 .

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Definition

Environmental sampling is defined as an observation of

changing environmental states.
Environmental monitoring is defined as a continuous
automated observation of environmental states.
The goal of sampling is information mining about the
frequency distribution of environmental data or about their
probability distribution parameters.

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Introduction

Ecological data are obtained by field samples and/or

laboratory analysis. They are directly observed (direct
observations) or indirectly observed (due to calibration of
analytical instruments and sensors). Summary data are
derived from statistics or by restricted observable indicators.
Simulated data are obtained by simulation models.
Recommendations for environmental sampling
The goals and needs for environmental data collection
should be formulated explicitly for each application. Prior
knowledge of the factors that effect environmental variables
to be sampled should be given. During sampling significant
changes of external and internal driving forces should not be
take place. Existing estimates may be sufficient if they were
obtained by unbiased sampling design.
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Sampling design
Phases of data flow in environmental sampling are given by
data capture (e.g. observation, measuring, description),
data processing (e.g. aggregation, identification, statistics),
data storage (e.g. data bases, metadata, GIS), and
data analysis (modelling, simulation, decision support
systems, knowledge systems).
For sampling design basic knowledge on environmental
processes should be given.

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Sampling design (2)
A prerequisite for process or system identification is the
availability of appropriate records of the observed process
or system dynamics.
Important aspects of experimental design are
1. major process time-constants,
2. sampling (measurement) frequency,
3. duration of observations and experiment,
4. choice of initial (start) values of observations,
5. noise level, and
6. process nonlinearities.

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Examples for sampling of
environmental variables

1. Water budget: Surface and groundwater inputs, outputs

and changes;
2. Chemical variables: Organic and inorganic substances,
metabolites;
3. Physical variables: External and internal driving forces;
4. Biological variables: Uptake and conversion of nutrients
and organic substances by plants and animals;
5. Other variables as required.

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Essentials for sampling of
environmental data
Information content of data: Observation, recording of data and/or
monitoring of the environmental states characterized by chemical
variables.
Description of data: Data analysis, statistical, chemometrical and
cause-effect modelling and simulation.
Technological design: Development of sampling and application of
application of modern detection methods for environmental constituents,
laboratory equipments, hardware and software.
Space and time design: Consideration of space domain of scaling and
time depending changes of processes and their rates, change of the
environmental states by internal and external control schemes.
Institutional design: Administration and organisation of environmental
management,balancing of resources, hierarchy of environmental control
activities.
Economical design: Characterization and evaluation of management
alternativesand their environmental effects, decision and policy making.

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Sources of variability in sampling
programs
Sources of variability in sampling programs are given by
the variability caused by environmental factors (between
sites and dates,or between dates at the same sites),
the variability caused by intrinsic factors between samples
(same site and same date),
the variability caused by different chemical analytical
methods (between determination), and
the variability caused by different chemical pre-treatments
(same determinations).

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Satellite imagery
Digital raster data obtained from satellite systems contain the
environmental information in an implicit form only. The same
areas are never recorded in the same way because of the
changing conditions of the atmosphere, vegetation and their
illumination. For this reason, a developed branch of engineering
exists to analyse this kind of imagery.
It involves techniques from different engineering and scientific
disciplines e.g. control engineering, civil engineering, process
engineering, electrical engineering, information technology,
computer technology, mathematics, informatics, chemistry,
biology, ecology, where methods of signal processing, statistics,
pattern recognition and artificial intelligence are included.
Problems are caused by classifying of pixels, by grouping of
adjacent pixels to form objects, by identifying patterns of images
of the real world, and by the recognition of features..

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Landsat
Landsat provides periodic high resolution multi-spectral
data of the Earths surface on a global basis. Landsat orbits
the earth once every 16 days, taking pictures of each part of
the surface of the Earth. Each scene covers an area of 185
by 172 km.

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Example 1

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SPOT
SPOT (Satellite pour lobservation de la terre) is an Earth
observing satellite. SPOT features some sophisticated
scanning technology to support stereoscopic imagery and
other advanced viewing options. Main applications include
environmental impact studies, geologic exploration, and
thematic map making.

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AVHRR
AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) is
satellite system applied to weather forecasting, pollution
monitoring, toxic algal bloom detection, and sandstorm
monitoring. It is also used to map global vegetation. The
U.S. Geological Surveys Data Centre produces four level of
data products of AVHRR time series that designed for both
biophysical and land cover data requirements of global
change research.

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Questions?

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