formatting data from one file into two files

[Beth]

Hello,

My distance sampling data was collected and compiled at the observation level, but unmarked requires two separate files (one at the observation-level and one at the survey route-level). Is that correct? If so, how do I efficiently convert my observation data into two files? Specifically, how do I create a file for survey routes from my observation data? 

I have 12 study areas with 4-6 survey routes each. The survey routes range from 30-40 miles and were created after ensuring the habitat composition of each route matches the composition of the larger study area. Because I collected the habitat type of the observations, I don't have a habitat variable describing a single habitat type for each survey route and have many different habitat types described for a single survey route because the habitat variable is describing the observation. 

Thus far, I have been trying to segment my survey route shapefiles into many, smaller segments based on segments of dominant habitat type along the survey route. I have over 60 survey routes and will end up with hundreds of smaller segments after segmentation. Then, I think I need to match my observation data to each segment to get a new survey route ID. 

Is this a feasible method? If so, how do I efficiently accomplish this? Has anyone dealt with this with their data, having to create a transect data frame from observation data?

Thank you for your help ,

Beth

[Jeffrey Royle]

hi Beth,

 Yes I would recommend chopping the segments up into smaller segments, 1km or even 100m or whatever, and then characterizing the habitat at that smaller level. If you do this it should fit right into the data structures that unmarked requires.

 I'm not sure how to efficiently accomplish that but you presumably have the gPS location of each detection (or the point on the line perhaps) so the GPS coordinate should naturally identify the sub-segment I think?

regards

andy

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