One of the biggest challenges that rangeland researchers and managers face is how to gather the necessary data for decision-making as efficiently and accurately as possible. Often we know how we want to collect the data – meaning what method to use – based on objectives, but where to sample is an altogether different problem that has a large impact on not only efficiency, but in terms of how (or even if) the data can be generalized to other areas.

• Sample designs commonly used in rangeland assessment and monitoring
• Inference Space - What is it and why is it important to you?
• Why Stratify? - Why and when should you use stratification in designing sampling schemes for assessment and monitoring.
• When Key Areas Aren't Anymore - the case for randomized sample site selection
• Sample Design Using Object-based Image Analysis(OBIA)

• Video of the July 20, 2010 Jornada Web Seminar on Practical Tools for Multi-scale Sample Design.
• Reference list and links to tools discussed in the July 20, 2010 web seminar.

• Multi-scale Sampling Requirements Evaluation Tool - MSSRET
• Jornada Sampling Tools for ArcGIS
• Unequal Probability Sample Analysis Tool Excel based

• NOAA Sample Design Tool for ArcGIS
• Hawth's Tools
• Visual Sample Plan
• Spatially Balanced Sampling in GIS using RRQRR