Land-use change

Land-use dynamics - demonstration model

Fri, 26/10/2012 - 16:00 — jonathanm

ModelId:

landuse1

SimileVersion:

3.1+

This model illustrates one approach to modeling land-use dynamics. In this case, individal units of land ("patches") can be in one of two states: forest or crop. Each patch can switch from one state to the other, depending on various factors including the current state of the forest or crop in the patch.

Results:

The following sequence of screen shots shows how the cropping area on the left (yellow) gradually encroaches into the forest. It is then replaced by young forest (light green), until eventually it in turn is cut down and the cycle continues.