On the ground estimation of vegetation cover in Australian rangelands

Abstract

A number of field techniques were assessed on their reliability for estimating vegetation cover in Australian rangelands. The field sampling was undertaken using visual estimation, line intercepts, a crown cover model, and images acquired from a digital camera. The results from these methods were compared and analysed. The data obtained from these differing methods agree with each other in relative rather than absolute terms. This suggests that the methods can provide a reasonable basis for qualitative remote sensing studies, but are not suitable for quantitative investigations.