Distance sampling workshops, St Andrews August 2016

[Melanie Colón]

The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental
Modelling (CREEM) is hosting two linked workshops in the summer of 2016
in our purpose-built facilities at the University of St. Andrews,
Scotland. Participation in these workshops will train participants in
the latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys,
including line and point transects. The workshops are taught by leading
researchers in the field, using industry-standard software.


The first workshop (16-19 August) will run at an introductory level, and
will focus on distance sampling methods, largely described in the
standard reference book "Introduction to Distance Sampling." The
workshop will be a blend of theory and practice and participants will
learn how to use the program "Distance." Participants will gain a solid
grounding in both survey design and methods of analysis for distance
sampling surveys. Note that we have moved the 'automated survey design'
and 'incorporating covariates in detection function' from the advanced
workshop into the introductory workshop.


The advanced distance sampling workshop (22-25 August) will include
advanced treatment of analyses in which detectability on the transect
line is not assumed to be perfect (the so-called g(0) problem) and
spatial (or density surface) modelling. We will showcase a series of R
packages for performing standard as well as sophisticated analyses in R.
The aim of this workshop is to perform non-standard and sophisticated
distance sampling analyses. It is also an opportunity for those actively
engaged in the design, analysis and execution of distance sampling
surveys to discuss common issues and problems, and set future research
directions. The workshop will be a combination of lectures and computer
sessions, with considerable time for discussion.


For all workshops, participants are encouraged to bring their own data
sets, and can expect to do some preliminary analyses with their data.
Computer sessions take place in our modern computer classroom (attached
to the seminar room); participants can use our computers or bring their
own laptops.

Additional details regarding the workshop can be found at our website

http://creem2.st-andrews.ac.uk/distance-sampling-workshops-st-andrews-august-2016-2/