A simply feasible method and a program to create dot maps and calculate the co-ordinates
Abstract
To reveal ecological processes it is often necessary to examine the spatial relationship among the investigated entities. In many such cases creating a map of the components can be the best strategy because a map allows a great variety of post priory analyses. An inexpensive and fairly accurate method of mapping, which does not require proficiency, is based on simple distance measurements. Its only difficulty is to calculate the coordinates from the measured distances by triangulation. In this paper I advocate this method by reviewing its methodology and by introducing a newly developed, freely distributable computer application that performs the calculations of the coordinates.
References
Bácsatyai. L. (2002): Geodézia I-II., Kézirat. -NYME EMK, Sopron
Boose, E. R., Boose, E. F. & Lezberg, A. L. (1998): A practical method for mapping trees using distance measurements. -Ecology 79: 819-827.
Fortin, M. J., Dale, M. R. T., Hoef, D. & Hoef, J. (2001): Spatial analysis in ecology. - In: El- Shaarawi, A. H. & Piegorsch, W. W. (eds): Encyclopedia o f Environmetries. - Wiley, Chichester, 4, pp. 2051-2058.
Hazay, I. (1957): Geodéziai kézikönyv I-II. - Közgazdasági és Jogi Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 1956- 1957.
Rohlf, F. J. & Archie, J. W. (1978): Least-squares mapping using interpoint distances. - Ecology 59: 126132.
Rossi, R. E., Mulla, D. J., Joumel, A. G. & Franz, E. H. (1992): Geostatistical tools for modeling and interpreting ecological spatial dependence. - Ecological Monographs 62: 277-314.
