Message to the Distance list regarding variance estimation when using strip transects with DSM. User first tried dsm_var_prop, but that failed, so tried dsm_var_gam which also failed.
Minimum reproducible example with Spotted dolphin data shipped with dsm package
library(Distance)
library(dsm)
# load the Gulf of Mexico dolphin data (see ?mexdolphins)
data(mexdolphins)
uni.mod <- ds(distdata, key="unif", adjustment = NULL, truncation=6000)
# fit a simple smooth of x and y
dsm.uni <- dsm(count~s(x, y), uni.mod, segdata, obsdata)
# second attempt using dummy_ddf
dsm.uni.dummy <- dsm(count~s(x, y), dummy_ddf(obsdata$object,width=6000), segdata, obsdata)
# Calculate the variance
# this will give a summary over the whole area in mexdolphins$preddata
mod.uni.var <- dsm_var_gam(dsm.uni, preddata, off.set=preddata$area)
summary(mod.uni.var)
mod.uni.var.dummy <- dsm_var_gam(dsm.uni.dummy, preddata, off.set=preddata$area)
summary(mod.uni.var.dummy)
Preferred behaviour
dsm_var_gam should recognise when a strip transect has been used and return simply the variability of the fitted gam because there is no uncertainty associated with the detection function model