Distance sampling: Survey design
Design robust surveys to estimate animal density and population size, for wildlife researchers, conservation project officers and field staff
- Review the theory of distance sampling and relate it to your own research and monitoring needs
- Calculate survey effort, including the number and length of transects
- Consider transect placement and environmental/human factors relevant to your field site and questions
- Online course: 2 weeks part-time from 14 October 2024
You know that distance sampling is a relevant technique for you, perhaps because:
- 📈 You’re tasked with monitoring the density or population size of a species of conservation concern
- 😟 You’re starting a new research project but don’t have the field equipment or budget to trap or photograph animals for capture-mark-recapture
- 👂 Your colleagues or collaborators are using distance sampling and you need to contribute to decisions about survey effort and/or logistics in the field
But where do you start planning your surveys? And how can you ensure you collect the data you need? 🤔
We’re here to help!
About the course
Our online course Distance sampling: Survey design takes you step-by-step through the process of:
- Calculating the total distance you need to survey, in order to accurately estimate density for your species and environment
- Determining the number and length of transects, and how many repeat surveys to do
- Considering transect placement, and deciding what environmental information to record
You’ll find this course useful if you need to:
- Review the theory and understand how to apply it confidently to your situation
- Decide how to allocate your survey effort to ensure you get the data you need for decision-making
- Manage a field team who already collect sightings along transects
- Evaluate a survey design created by your colleague, to check it is fit for purpose
Our course is ideal if you’re a complete beginner to distance sampling, or if you need to remind yourself how to deploy this powerful tool
Related courses
We have two other courses on Distance sampling running this September/October:
- Theory and applications - suitable if you need to understand and/or teach the fundamentals of distance sampling, but you don’t need to analyse data. Our stand-alone Theory and applications course is identical to the first week of the Survey design course
- Analysis with R - suitable if you already have wildlife sightings from transects or point counts and need to gain insights from them
If you’re unsure which course is suitable for you, we suggest you register for the stand-alone Theory and applications course. If you decide during that course that you’d like to continue with the Analysis or Survey design tracks, contact us and we can provide a payment link to upgrade, with the price of the Theory and applications course deducted
We are also happy to give you individual advice on choosing a course - do contact us if you’d like guidance
Knowing how to design field surveys is crucial for ensuring you can answer your research questions, and make evidence-based conservation decisions. Poor survey design, without sufficient consideration of the purpose of data collection, wastes resources, time and energy, hindering effective conservation
Dr Lucy Tallents, Founder and Director of VerdantLearn
Register for the course
Visit the Subscriptions page of VerdantLearn’s community to register:
Course dates
This two-week tutored course starts on Monday 14 October 2024 and ends on Friday 25 October 2024
Study time is 3-5 hours each week. The timing is completely flexible - you can participate whenever it suits you during the week
Course fees and discounts
The fee for this course is 48 GBP
We offer generous discounts (up to 90% off!) to those who can’t afford the standard course fee:
- Conservationists from low- or middle-income countries1
- Students and currently unwaged
Everyone gets access to the same learning activities and support. If you or your organisation can afford it, paying the higher fee enables VerdantLearn to keep offering courses at affordable prices for everyone. This supports the efforts of conservationists globally, and increases the diversity of learners on our courses, so you benefit too!
To find out what discount you’re eligible for, and gain a coupon code, please complete the form on our discount enquiries page:
Any questions?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us
So, are you ready to design your own surveys to estimate density and the factors that affect it…?
Footnotes
World Bank list of countries by income level↩︎