veldtelling

Veldtelling is a Dutch and Afrikaans term that literally translates as "field counting" and refers to the practice of obtaining quantitative observations in the field by direct enumeration or sampling. It is used across disciplines to collect data on plants, animals, crops, archaeological sites, infrastructure, or human households and activities outside laboratory or office settings.

Typical methods include transect walks, point counts, quadrat sampling, and timed searches. In wildlife and ecological studies veldtelling often aims to estimate abundance, density, distribution or phenology; in agriculture it may assess pest incidence or yield components; in social and public-health contexts it can mean door-to-door surveys or household counts. Data from veldtelling are frequently analyzed by extrapolation, density estimation or statistical models that account for detectability and observer error, such as distance sampling or mark–recapture extensions.

Advantages of veldtelling include direct observation, relative simplicity and flexibility across habitats and scales. Limitations encompass observer bias, imperfect detection, temporal and spatial variability, and logistical constraints in large or inaccessible areas. Best practice combines standardized protocols, repeat sampling, calibration, and clear metadata to improve comparability and reliability. The term is commonly used in the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa and is roughly equivalent to "field survey" or "field count" in English.