patch analyst question
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1
09-02-2010 01:56 PM
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Anyone who has experience using PA please correct me if I am wrong...
But the idea behind the hexagon grid is that it more naturally forms a seamless coverage when overlaid on a sphere... (think of a soccer ball, it just wouldn't be a soccerball if it was patched together with triangles or worse, squares)
The irregularly shaped edge also allows a user to define clusters without having to use squares (which are unrealistic when modeling habitat). For instance, when you create your 'hotspots' you can then define the minimum area required for the habitat to be viable, like a minimum size in Ha. These selected hotspots can now have the hexagon grid overlaid to have a 'habitat area'.
So no, it is not required that you make the hexagon grid but if you do, keep in mind that the area of each hexagon is relative to the total area of your study area.
But the idea behind the hexagon grid is that it more naturally forms a seamless coverage when overlaid on a sphere... (think of a soccer ball, it just wouldn't be a soccerball if it was patched together with triangles or worse, squares)
The irregularly shaped edge also allows a user to define clusters without having to use squares (which are unrealistic when modeling habitat). For instance, when you create your 'hotspots' you can then define the minimum area required for the habitat to be viable, like a minimum size in Ha. These selected hotspots can now have the hexagon grid overlaid to have a 'habitat area'.
So no, it is not required that you make the hexagon grid but if you do, keep in mind that the area of each hexagon is relative to the total area of your study area.
