Calculating the optimal number of contaminant samples by means of data worth analysis

This is a study of Bayesian data worth analysis in environmental clean-up applications. Its focus is on calculatingthe worth of simultaneously taking several (soil) samples in a small homogeneous area and on finding the optimalnumber of samples to take, by relating the reduction in risk cost from sampling, that is, data worth, to the cost ofthe samples. Even though the cost of one sample may be higher than the risk cost reduction it provides, this studyshows that several samples may be cost-efficient. This is mainly due to two factors: one is that the unit sample costoften decreases as the number of samples increase; another, more important, factor is that the data worth of severalsamples typically is higher than the worth of fewer samples. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd