I will be using both vector and raster data in my field.since i will be using transect line and determing types and forms of species lie in field areas
One of my objectives to my study is to determine habitat preference. So when doing field data collection, It would be vector data in the form of points (GPS locations are taken where rhinos are observed). To make home range I would use the point vector to make polygons. My other objective is to determine diet preference and this will be done by doing vegetation surveys and this would be thematic raster data.
I think for my research I will mainly use only vector data model: polygon, because I want to determine the home range of colugo
Tracking the movement of animals by using GPS pillar, i would use vector model data using points to track the movement.
I am using a point vector dataset for my field sites, a polygon vector of the coastline and continuous raster datasets for environmental variables such as average sea surface temperature and salinity.
For my seagrass mapping work I think that I can use vector (polygons) to show the seagrass meadow area. It would probably be more useful to use raster to show substrate, species mix, and percent coverage. I am still a little vague about what is considered “continuous” and what is considered “thematic”, but I think these 3 would be considered thematic.
for my data, we perform 20 m random line transect (with replicates) to count the number of species present per square m. I assume my data represents thematic raster?
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I’d say that either vector or raster are important and useful for my studies due to they get complement each other and let us take more detailed information about an area of study. For instance, If we are assessing an oil spill track, we can use a vector spatial-data model to draw a polygon for marking the total affected area that it could be inland or offshore. Meanwhile It can be used a raster spatial-data model to classify land attributes, water bodies, and other kind of raster spatial-data in order to determine the possible impact from the oil spill in the affected zone.
I’d like to assume that I will be using both vector and raster data models in the future. When working with locations I’d use GPS to collect data and I will represent this is vector specifically points and if there are other factors affecting the locations such as rainfall, soil type, elevation, etc then I will use raster data model.
I would say I hardly use any raster layers, unless I’m pinpointing the elevation of my study area. I’m currently busy with a study on a certain weed species, trying to find it’s exact distribution in a certain area. Since I will be collecting data of individual plants, that will be a vector data and will be using points to achieve that.
Currently, the data I take in the field are vectors. These are the positions where the individuals of the different species were caught. However, I would like to associate this information with both vectors (rivers, lagoons, roads, rocky areas) and raster (soil hardness, ecoregions, altitude).
I haven’t collected my own field data yet as I’m still studying. However, one of my recent assignments used location data for Arabian oryx in a protected area so it used vector data - location points for the individuals, but also polygons to show their home range and the boundary fence of the protected area. It could be useful to incorporate raster data to look at why the oryx might be travelling to or inhabiting different locations.
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Currently in my graduate thesis I use points to mark the locations of the places where I find tapir specimens. I also use polygons to be able to adequately represent the distribution of the species.
As an example, in the project of Mexican wolf reintroduction we generate shape layers to follow the movements of wolves that have a transmitter collar. Also, we generate shape points when we place trap cameras to track wolves and where we collect their droppings. As an example of a raster layer, we use the vegetation cover that is thematic and we use the elevation layer that is continuous.
Vector for the animal distribution points (discrete data) and raster for the occupancy range (continuous data).
vector data - GPS points for predator kill sites
im interested in seeing where the route of the parrots in my region travel since it can be only found at a particular beach i guess for that i would be using vector rather than raster.
For my project I used both vector and raster data models. Vector (point form) for the GPS points, which were locations of Erythrophleum africanum in the park. Then raster data model for (plant density, vegetation type, type of veg damage and distance of the point from a water hole).
they are both good to use but i think we should also look at the prons and cons of each in terms of data storage. for my field work i personally think i will go with Vector data as i understand that is not made up of grid of pixels but it comprised of vertices and paths which means that the graphical output is generally more aesthetically pleasing, it gives more geographic accuracy as data is not dependent on grid sizes than Raster data. so i think i will find it easy to use Vector data as it has multiple attributes eg: Points, lines and polygon i can easily work around with it as it consists of coordinates. Raster data works with pixels (grid cells) which means it values in the satellite images, each value in an elevation map represents a specific height eg: rainfall, landcover, soil type,etc. as we have 2 types of Raster data, namely: Thematic raster and Continuous raster thematic raster has distinct themes eg: it has 1 grid cell that represents a land cover, soil type, management zone, ecoregion with continuous raster are grid cells with gradual changing data eg: temparature, elevation, aerial photograph, probability of occupancy, density which i think i might consider to use it in future as is useful for updated data storage.
both if using GIS to visualize my sampling location(vector) with water parameter data (raster)
example: location of clam collected and sediment collection points. (vector), water parameter such as DO, salinity, pH (raster)