Combining the Line Intercept Sampling with the Ranked Set Sampling

Abstract

Ranked set sampling with size biased probability of selection (i.e., the items are selected with probability proportion to its size) is combined with the line intercept method to create a new sampling method, to be called LI/MTW. Two-stage sampling plan suggested in the first stage line intercept sampling method is used. Simple random sampling and ranked set sampling are used and compared in the second stage to show that the unbiased estimators of cover, density, and total amount of some variable of interest per unit area based on a ranked set sampling data have smaller variances than the usual unbiased estimator based on the simple random sampling data. An application procedure is given for estimation of coverage, density and total number of stems per unit area of rose rock (Cistus Villosns) in a study area west of Jerash, Jordan.