Estimating Distance Using Pacing Student’s Name Department of Forest Range and Wildlife Sciences at Utah State University

How Do We Measure? Tape Measure Tape Measure Precise and Affordable Precise and Affordable Time Consuming Time Consuming GPS and Laser GPS and Laser Extremely Precise Extremely Precise Expensive Expensive Pacing Pacing Quick and Cheap Quick and Cheap Less Precise Less Precise

Green Canyon Near Logan, Utah Near Logan, Utah Elevation 5000 ft Elevation 5000 ft Vegetation Vegetation Juniper Juniper Sagebrush Sagebrush Crested Wheat Grass Crested Wheat Grass

Methods Establish Pace Length 4 Pre-measured Courses, 4 Trips Each 4 Pre-measured Courses, 4 Trips Each Gravel Road 100 m Gravel Road 100 m Juniper Patch 100 m Juniper Patch 100 m Sage Flat 100 m Sage Flat 100 m Steep Slope 50 m Steep Slope 50 m

Results Gravel Road Average 119 paces per 100 m Gravel Road Average 119 paces per 100 m

Results

Discussion Gravel road was most accurate Gravel road was most accurate Sagebrush and juniper were similar Sagebrush and juniper were similar Compensate for obstacles Compensate for obstacles Steep slope least accurate Steep slope least accurate Hard to judge effect on pace Hard to judge effect on pace Standard deviation with slope = 25.2 Standard deviation with slope = 25.2 Standard deviation emitting steep slope = 2.7 Standard deviation emitting steep slope = 2.7

Implications Pacing is quick and affordable Pacing is quick and affordable Can be fairly accurate and precise Can be fairly accurate and precise Precision constraints of a particular project Precision constraints of a particular project Not recommended in steep or rugged areas Not recommended in steep or rugged areas