---
title: "Systematic or random sampling scheme?"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/1312/systematic-or-random-sampling-scheme"
tags: ["collect"]
status: "answered"
score: 0
answer_count: 2
asked: "2017-06-14T16:33:34"
last_activity: "2017-07-05T10:40:27"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Systematic or random sampling scheme?

Asked by flandsberg on 2017-06-14

Hi,

I am not a statistician and I would like to get some recommendation regarding whether to create a random or systematic sample plots. I will need to stratify it according to LULC but I don't know whether I should go for random or systematic within each strata.

Are both as statistically robust? I would like to have peer-reviewed articles to back up any assertion one way or another.

Thanks,

Florence


## Answer (score 1, by Open Foris on 2017-06-30)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/1312/systematic-or-random-sampling-scheme/1319

Dear Florence,

Plese refer to this paper on "[Dot sampling method for Area Estimation][1]" (point 3.2) that includes an explanation of which method is more robust. Basically for practical reasons (easier to understand andto produce) we always reccomend the Systematic sampling. 

I reccomend you read the whole document as it containsa good explanation of the dot sampling method.

When it comes to area calculations the procedure is the same ( please see section 2.1) regardless of random or systematic sampling as the probabilities are the same.

Hope this helps!

  [1]: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/rap/files/Project/Expert_Meeting__17Feb2014_/P1-1_Dot_sampling_method_for_planted_area_estimation_using_Google_earth___land_use_survey__FAO_RAP_17_Feb_2014.pdf


## Answer (score 0, by flandsberg on 2017-07-05)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/1312/systematic-or-random-sampling-scheme/1320

Thanks! I will try and digest. I will come back if I am still unsure. Cheers, Florence