Estimating Coverage and Particle Density Using the Line Intercept Method

Abstract

Unbiased estimates of coverage and particle density are given for the case of a randomly placed transect and any distribution of particles. When the particles are circular, estimates based on diameters are also available. Unbiased variance estimates are derived for a random distribution of particles: in the case of coverage the particles are also assumed to be convex and nonoverlapping. The work of Mclntyre (1953) based on longest chord measurements is briefly considered.