Multiple Increment Sampling Cost Page

This page of the sample design dialog allows input and analysis of costs associated with multiple increment sample designs.

This design page contains the following controls:

Total Area to Sample:

Displays the total area of selected sample areas on the map. If no map is being used, this control allows you to input a theoretical sampling area.

Units:

Units associated with the sampling area.

Sampling Costs

Fixed Planning & Validation Cost:

Enter the total fixed costs that are associated with the sampling plan. These are costs that are not associated with the collection and combination of increments or the analysis of analytical subsamples from the multiple increment samples.

Per Increment Collection and Combination Cost:

The cost of gathering each increment and combining these increments into the required multiple increment samples.

Cost per Analytical Subsample Measurement:

The cost associated with the process of taking a subsample from the multiple increment and performing an analysis of the subsample.

Total Cost:

This is the total cost for the sampling design, using the formula:

Total Cost =

(Fixed Planning and Validation Cost) +

(Per Increment Collection and Combination Cost) * (Number of Increments) +

(Cost per Analytical Subsample Measurement) * (Number of MI Samples) * (Analytical Subsamples per MI Sample)

Optimal Sampling Plan For a Fixed Cost:

This option finds the best combination of

• Increments

• Multiple Increment Samples

• Analytical Subsample

to have the smallest grey region width (delta) based on a defined fixed cost.

Minimum Cost For a Desired Width of Grey Region (Delta):

This option finds the best combination of

• Increments

• Multiple Increment Samples

• Analytical Subsample

to have the lowest cost based on a fixed grey region width (delta).

Maximum Cost / Delta:

Depending on which optimization method is selected, this is either the maximum fixed costs for data collection and laboratory analysis, or the required fixed width of the grey region. All of the sampling costs inputs must be correctly input for this option to work correctly.

Cost Comparison:

Displays the top 5 sets of sampling parameters for either the best cost, or the best performance (i.e. narrowest width of the grey region). To use one of the sampling options in the cost comparison table, select its number from the drop down list and press the Select button.