Fieldwork Ready. Sara E. Vero
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my site have?This is a multifaceted question so let us break it down into manageable parts:Does the site have the characteristics which will allow you to test your hypothesis? In other words, if your hypothesis is that slope aspect influences the rate of snowmelt in alpine mountain ranges then your field sites must (i) be alpine mountains, (ii) have snow‐cover for a given period, and (iii) exhibit a range of different slope aspects that you can compare. This might seem obvious, but it is remarkably easy to choose sites based on ease of access, familiarity, or other generally positive traits that are actually poorly suited to the hypothesis in question. When choosing sites that are intended to be representative of a particular environment or situation you must think carefully about what the defining characteristics are and list them. Then, you can review potential sites objectively.Does the site have any characteristics that might unduly influence or confound the examination of your hypothesis? So, in your alpine snowmelt study, is one of your potential sites heavily forested while the others are relatively bare? If so, then this site is probably not suitable for inclusion in your study as there are other factors that might overly influence your results.Can you access the site? Even if you identify a site that is ideal on paper (it has all the characteristics of the scenario you want to study and it is suitable for application of your treatments), there are also logistical concerns. How far away is it? How long will it take you to get there and back? Is there electricity, water, or other facilities you might need? Is the landowner willing to grant you access? How close can a road get you to the site and are you capable of transporting your equipment across fields, rivers or hills? Is it safe? Are there any potentially dangerous animals? Be realistic in evaluating these issues.
6 How long will fieldwork take?Fieldwork can be more time‐consuming than expected on paper and as you are subject to the environment and the unexpected (loss of tools, breakdowns, bad traffic, poor conditions, etc.), it is vital that you schedule extra time for these possibilities. Your planning might look something like this: Travel time can be estimated with reasonable accuracy from route planning tools such as Google maps; however, you should allow extra time for traffic. If you are bringing heavy equipment such as a trailer, you may also be slower than otherwise expected. You can't really attach a precise number of hours to the unexpected events that can occur during fieldwork. Rather, schedule some spare time to allow for unplanned circumstances. You can help minimize these by preparing thoroughly, using checklists, and practicing with your equipment in advance. Setup and application of treatments and measurements can be estimated in advance if you conduct a trial run. The more familiar and practiced you are with the tools and techniques you will use, the more efficient you will be. Never try a technique or tool out for the first time in the field. Rest is also critical. Don't expect that you will be able to squeeze in an extra few measurements at the expense of a lunch or coffee break. This may be unavoidable sometimes, but if you are engaged in a prolonged fieldwork campaign, it will wear you down and ultimately make you less effective. If you are driving to your field site, this becomes even more important. Tiredness is sadly a common cause of road accidents. If you feel yourself becoming sleepy while at the wheel (considering sometimes, long distances to field sites and the strenuous nature of the work this is not unusual), pull over where it is safe to do so, take a nap, eat, drink a coffee or energy drink, or if necessary and possible to do so, rest overnight. If you are traveling with someone, you may want to share the driving. Fieldwork is no excuse for being irresponsible in this regard. Unsafe driving puts both yourself and others at risk. This is discussed in detail later on.You should also consider the importance of seasons or years. Many environmental and agricultural research projects need multiple seasons or years to allow full examination of a treatment. While this might be fine for permanent researchers, if you are a PhD student you typically have a very finite length of time in which you must gather, analyze, and write‐up your data. If your PhD program is three years long and allowing time for design and setup prior to the experiment, and time for thesis preparation subsequently, achieving two years of field data may be challenging. However, multiple seasons or years usually add greater reliability to your findings. The fewer seasons of data you report, the greater the likelihood that your data and interpretations will be influenced by factors such as weather specific to that year. It is up to you and your advisors to figure out the optimal approach here. This is something that you should consider prior to starting your field campaign. Remember, you can usually spend as much or as little time in the laboratory as you find necessary. When it comes to field seasons however, we are all at the mercy of time!
7 What statistical structure will I use?It is good practice to consider your statistical approach or even to seek the advice of a statistician when initially planning your fieldwork. If you are conducting a plot or other replicated study, this will help you to select the optimum number of replicates. If you are conducting a case study, statistical approaches may not be easily implementable as the variables in this type of research are not always strictly controlled. In such cases, a thorough and well‐developed discussion of your results is particularly important.
8 How much will this experiment cost?It is all too easy to design large‐scale, comprehensive, and high‐tech field studies. In reality, costs must be accounted for as this will constrain your plans. Some general costs you need to consider include:StaffConsumablesLicenses/visas/permitsVehicles/fuelAccommodationHardware/SoftwareEquipmentContractorsAnalysesField studies can incur large costs, and it is important to be realistic in estimating these at the outset. If your intended study includes a field component over many years you should firmly establish funding in advance. Many research institutes will have a financial department that can help you to calculate your budget, but it is up to you to determine the costs of equipment, consumables, and analyses that you will require. Keep in mind that you may not have the skills, equipment, or authority to perform certain tasks and may need to hire contractors. Your research institute may have established relationships with these contractors or else you may need to shop around and obtain quotes for the intended work. Just as additional time is sometimes required, there can also be unexpected costs, such as replacements for equipment, additional samples to be processed, etc. Leave yourself some extra budget, if possible, to cover these eventualities.
9 Do I have the equipment?Equipment includes tools, safety gear, appropriate clothing, machinery, and sampling or measurement devices that you will need during your field study. Don't assume your research center will have exactly what you need, and be very wary if someone tells you “Oh, we have one of those in the shed…” Stored equipment should always be carefully examined and tested to see that it is functioning correctly and can actually supply the results you need. Sometimes older equipment can be repaired or refurbished if it has only minor damage. Often simply replacing dry and cracked tubing, O‐rings, and other rubberized components is all that is required as these parts tend to degrade in storage. Check whether such equipment has been surpassed by more modern devices. These may offer superior measurements, greater ease of use, or will be more understandable to the modern readers of your studies.If you are purchasing new equipment or if you have several different devices at your disposal that measure the same variable, it is a good idea to speak to an expert who thoroughly understands the various approaches and can advise you as to which would best serve your purpose. It's vital to do your background research also. Typically, newer methods or devices will be tested against the older, more established approaches. Look for peer‐reviewed research on your intended methods and consider emailing the corresponding author if you have further questions.If equipment does become damaged, think carefully before attempting to repair it. Some items can be repaired relatively easily, but don't assume that you have the skills to do so unless you have been appropriately trained. This is particularly true for equipment which has mechanical or electronic components. Equipment is often purchased with warranties and service agreements. Check that you will not invalidate these by tampering with the device! For “simple” repairs or maintenance, such as replacing hoses or cleaning sensors, consult the manuals and use the correct tools. Much hardship and frustration can be saved by reading the instructions before you take things apart!If your research institute has equipment that is available to many different people, be sure to check with whoever is responsible for its storage or maintenance before you take it. There may be a schedule or roster for its use and taking equipment without following the proper routine can infringe on other people's work. Remember, your project is no more or less important than theirs! Always return used equipment in a timely manner and in good condition.Clean tools after you have used them and put them in their proper place (