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.