14.5.2 Integration Process
To increase area frame accuracy further, the automated stratification method was
integrated with the traditional method resulting in a new hybrid operational process
that will yield significant stratification accuracy improvements in high, medium, and
low agricultural areas. In this new operational process, existing state area frames are
revised by using automated stratification as the primary stratification tool instead of
starting over from scratch. In the process, existing area frame stratification definitions are compared with the results of automated stratification and the PSUs that
have potentially changed stratum definitions are identified and targeted for manual
inspection. While automated stratification alone achieves higher accuracies and
improved stratum homogeneity than traditional stratification in the highly cultivated
strata, further accuracy improvement can be achieved with the additional manual
inspection and editing procedure. PSUs are purposely reduced in size to improve
their homogeneity. The stratum definitions of PSUs are changed based on the
automated stratification results and manual review and editing procedure. This
new hybrid process integrates the automated stratification method followed by a
targeted manual stratification refinement.
The flowchart shown in Fig. 14.9 illustrates the hybrid operational area frame
construction process that integrates automated stratification as the primary stratification tool. The existing state area frames, produced using the traditional stratification method, are reused. The existing state area frame PSU boundaries are used with
automated stratification to produce revised area frames. The manual area frame
refinement procedures are followed, after comparing the new results with the
existing traditional area frame, and the identified stratum definition-changed PSUs
are edited as needed. As shown in Fig. 14.9, the data and steps used to perform
automated stratification are highlighted in blue and the manual review and editing
steps are highlighted in green. The detailed steps to conduct the hybrid operational
process are as follows:
Automated Stratification Steps (Blue Boxes in Fig. 14.9):
(1–7) Initial steps are identical to those listed in Sect. 14.4.1 Stratification Method
Manual/Editing and Review Steps (Green Boxes in Fig. 14.9).
(8)
Examine area frame PSUs to identify those that do not match the automated
strata results and exceed size tolerances.
(9)
Identify PSU boundary and population changes using ancillary data sources
including the original traditional area frame, USDA Farm Service Agency
Common Land Unit data, Census data, Landsat 8 satellite imagery, and
National Agricultural Imagery Program data.
284
C. G. Boryan and Z. Yang
To increase area frame accuracy further, the automated stratification method was
integrated with the traditional method resulting in a new hybrid operational process
that will yield significant stratification accuracy improvements in high, medium, and
low agricultural areas. In this new operational process, existing state area frames are
revised by using automated stratification as the primary stratification tool instead of
starting over from scratch. In the process, existing area frame stratification definitions are compared with the results of automated stratification and the PSUs that
have potentially changed stratum definitions are identified and targeted for manual
inspection. While automated stratification alone achieves higher accuracies and
improved stratum homogeneity than traditional stratification in the highly cultivated
strata, further accuracy improvement can be achieved with the additional manual
inspection and editing procedure. PSUs are purposely reduced in size to improve
their homogeneity. The stratum definitions of PSUs are changed based on the
automated stratification results and manual review and editing procedure. This
new hybrid process integrates the automated stratification method followed by a
targeted manual stratification refinement.
The flowchart shown in Fig. 14.9 illustrates the hybrid operational area frame
construction process that integrates automated stratification as the primary stratification tool. The existing state area frames, produced using the traditional stratification method, are reused. The existing state area frame PSU boundaries are used with
automated stratification to produce revised area frames. The manual area frame
refinement procedures are followed, after comparing the new results with the
existing traditional area frame, and the identified stratum definition-changed PSUs
are edited as needed. As shown in Fig. 14.9, the data and steps used to perform
automated stratification are highlighted in blue and the manual review and editing
steps are highlighted in green. The detailed steps to conduct the hybrid operational
process are as follows:
Automated Stratification Steps (Blue Boxes in Fig. 14.9):
(1–7) Initial steps are identical to those listed in Sect. 14.4.1 Stratification Method
Manual/Editing and Review Steps (Green Boxes in Fig. 14.9).
(8)
Examine area frame PSUs to identify those that do not match the automated
strata results and exceed size tolerances.
(9)
Identify PSU boundary and population changes using ancillary data sources
including the original traditional area frame, USDA Farm Service Agency
Common Land Unit data, Census data, Landsat 8 satellite imagery, and
National Agricultural Imagery Program data.
284
C. G. Boryan and Z. Yang