Survey Transect Calculator
Calculate survey coverage percentage from transect spacing, width, and survey area size.
Inputs
hectares
ft
ft
mph
Results
Number of Transects
22
Ground Coverage
13.9%
Total Walk Distance6.96 km
Covered Area13,914 m²
Hours per Surveyor0.9 hrs
Estimated Field Days0.1 days
Transects per Person5.5
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Survey Area, Transect Spacing, and Transect Visibility Width.
- Set Walking Speed and Number of Surveyors.
- Review Number of Transects and Ground Coverage (%).
- Use Total Walk Distance (km) and Covered Area (m²) to inform your decision.
- Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.
How the result changes with Transect Spacing
| Transect Spacing | Number of Transects | Ground Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 29 | 18.3% |
| 36 | 9 | 5.7% |
| 65 | 5 | 3.2% |
| 90 | 4 | 2.5% |
What each input means
- Survey Area
- Total area to survey in hectares.
- Transect Spacing
- Center-to-center distance between transect lines.
- Transect Visibility Width
- Effective observation width per walker (ground visibility).
- Walking Speed
- Average survey walking pace.
- Number of Surveyors
- Field crew size.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersSurvey Area = 10, Transect Spacing = 15, Transect Visibility Width = 2, Walking Speed = 2 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Number of TransectsNumber of Transects22 = 22
- Calculate Ground CoverageGround Coverage13.9 = 13.9
- Calculate Total Walk DistanceTotal Walk Distance6.96 = 6.96
- Calculate Covered AreaCovered Area13914 = 13914
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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