Assorted fieldwork instruments laid out outdoors, representing the range of equipment used in secondary geography and science fieldwork

Fieldwork techniques | secondary geography and science student learning resource

This learning resource is designed to support secondary science and geography students' understandings of fieldwork techniques and equipment used to collect primary data.

It can be used as pre-learning for students participating in an incursion or excursion with the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre, or to assist students in the development and design of their own fieldwork investigations.

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Selecting fieldwork equipment

When participating in fieldwork it is important to select appropriate equipment.

View the gallery to preview a selection of commonly used fieldwork equipment and their purposes.

Metal quadrat with string grid placed on vegetation to estimate abundance and percentage cover during fieldwork

Quadrat

Estimate abundance and cover

Kestrel 3000 handheld weather meter used to measure atmospheric variables such as air temperature, wind speed and humidity

Kestrel 3000

Measure atmospheric variables

Digital light meter with sensor used to measure light intensity in lux at different fieldwork sites

Light meter

Measure light intensity

Infrared thermometer aimed at the ground surface to measure surface temperature remotely during fieldwork

Surface infrared thermometer

Measure surface temperature

Handheld sound level meter used to measure noise levels in decibels at different locations

Sound meter

Measure noise levels

Clinometer used to measure slope gradient in degrees by sighting along the instrument towards a target

Clinometer

Measure slope gradient

Laser rangefinder used to measure horizontal distances and heights of objects such as trees or buildings

Rangefinder

Measure distances and heights

Long measuring tape used in the field to record distances, heights and circumferences

Measuring tape

Measure distances, heights and circumferences

Soil moisture meter with metal probe and dial used to measure relative soil moisture levels

Soil moisture meter

Measure soil moisture levels

Metal soil depth spike pushed into the ground to measure the depth of soil above rock or hard layers

Soil depth spike

Measure soil depth

Soil pH test kit containing indicator solution, barium sulphate powder and colour chart for testing soil pH

Soil pH test kit

Measure soil pH

Soil texture chart used to classify soil type based on the proportions of sand, silt and clay

Soil texture chart

Classify soil type

Terrestrial macroinvertebrate survey equipment including trays and collection tools used to safely collect invertebrates on land

Terrestrial macroinvertebrate survey

Safely collect invertebrates

Printed animal field guide used to identify animal species observed during fieldwork

Animal field guide

Identify animal species

Scat identification chart showing pictures of animal droppings used to identify animal evidence in the field

Scat identification chart

Identify animal evidence

Printed plant field guide used to identify native plant species during vegetation surveys

Plant field guide

Identify plant species

Foliage cover chart based on Specht 1970 used to estimate percentage foliage cover in vegetation studies

Foliage cover chart (Specht, 1970)

Estimate foliage cover

Turbidity tube partly filled with water used to measure water turbidity and clarity in streams and ponds

Turbidity tube

Measure water turbidity

Phosphate chemical test kit used to measure phosphate concentration in water samples during fieldwork

Phosphate chemical test

Measure phosphate concentration in water

Dissolved oxygen chemical test kit used to measure oxygen concentration in water for aquatic ecosystem studies

Dissolved oxygen chemical test

Measure oxygen concentration in water

Tile image linking to the Abiotic factors fieldwork techniques page about measuring non-living environmental factors

Aquatic macroinvertebrate survey

Collect aquatic invertebrates

Fieldwork instrument guide

Access the fieldwork instrument guide for descriptions and purchasing suggestions for common fieldwork instruments.

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Using fieldwork equipment

When conducting investigations we can:

Tile image linking to the Abiotic factors fieldwork techniques page about measuring non-living environmental factors

Abiotic factors

Instructional information on sampling methods and equipment used to measure and record non-living factors.

Tile image linking to the Biotic factors fieldwork techniques page about sampling living components such as plants and animals

Biotic factors

Instructional information on sampling methods and equipment used to measure and record living factors.

Tile image linking to the Mobile technologies fieldwork page with suggested apps for collecting and recording fieldwork data

Mobile technologies

Useful mobile apps to collect, record and collate fieldwork data.