ARobel pole is a device consisting of a 1 to 2 m (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in) vertical pole possessing alternating horizontal bands and a 4 m (13 ft) line of rope or cord. It is used by range ecologists, fieldbiologists and other scientists to measure the density of vegetation and to quantify the volume of ground cover in a particularhabitat using thevisual obstruction (VO) measurement method. The Robel pole is named for Robert J. Robel, the scientist who developed the device and technique.[1] Modifications of Robel's original design have been developed and published; all use the VO method.
