k-step adaptive cluster sampling with Horvitz–Thompson estimator

Abstract

Adaptive cluster sampling (ACS) has been widely used for data collection of environment and natural resources. However, the randomness of its final sample size often impedes the use of this method. To control the final sample sizes, in this study, a [Formula: see text]-step ACS based on Horvitz–Thompson (HT) estimator was developed and an unbiased estimator was derived. The [Formula: see text]-step ACS-HT was assessed first using a simulated example and then using a real survey for numbers of plants for three species that were characterized by clustered and patchily spatial distributions. The effectiveness of this sampling design method was assessed in comparison with ACS Hansen–Hurwitz (ACS-HH) and ACS-HT estimators, and [Formula: see text]-step ACS-HT estimator. The effectiveness of using different [Formula: see text]-step sizes was also compared. The results showed that [Formula: see text]-step ACS-HT estimator was most effective and ACS-HH was the least. Moreover, stable sample mean and variance estimates could be obtained after a certain number of steps, but depending on plant species. [Formula: see text]-step ACS without replacement was slightly more effective than that with replacement. In [Formula: see text]-step ACS, the variance estimate of one-step ACS is much larger than other [Formula: see text]-step ACS ([Formula: see text]), but it is smaller than ACS. This implies that [Formula: see text]-step ACS is more effective than traditional ACS, besides, the final sample size can be controlled easily in population with big clusters.