Data collection was a large undertaking which was close to 5km of walking as each of my plots was 100m apart. The systematic sampling strategy, focused on a 10-hectare stand in Rose Valley Regional Park in West Kelowna that was affected by the McDougal Creek Wildfire, required thoughtful planning. Utilizing ArcGIS Pro and a systematic sampling grid, each 100m x 100m plot was strategically chosen. However, the undulating topography of the southeastern-facing slope presented challenges during field data collection as it was burnt steep and rocky. Despite the challenges encountered, the data collected yielded intriguing surprises. The expected direct relationship between conifer stand density and wildfire damage severity proved more nuanced in certain areas and my results did not entirely match up with the hypothesis.
I may have to plan more data collection using the same systematic sampling technique, leveraging its strengths in providing comprehensive coverage of the study area to get more a more compelling data set. I am also considered looking if some of the areas I sampled had previously had fire smart treatments which would impact the field data collection. Accounting for more variables may capture a better understanding of the post-fire ecosystem, shedding light on factors contributing to resilience or vulnerability.
Sounds interesting! Perhaps you are too far along to change your plot size but 100 m by 100 m seems large!