Modelling individual movements in heterogeneous landscapes: potentials of a new approach

This paper deals with modelling methods for spatially explicit simulations of animal movements in heterogeneous landscapes. Within this context technical and methodical limitations of grid-based models are discussed followed by examining the sparse use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Then a new approach is presented which is distinguished by two essential features to overcome the constituted limitations: (1) an irregular grid (similar to a quadtree) for modelling heterogeneous, patchy landscapes on a wide range of spatial scales and (2) the object-oriented approach for modelling individual movements in a vector-based manner independently of the resolution of the underlying grid. This sophisticated approach is embedded in a modelling framework which provides methods for model definition, simulation handling and flexible model evaluation. Finally, general potentials and links to modelling results of this approach are given. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.