ECGraph: A Complex Networks Tool to Classify Critical Points of Ecological Corridors

Abstract

The analysis of large amounts of information and its representation in a simple model has always been one of the main purposes of computer science. The field of territorial study is an excellent example to observe the complexity of the process, from the basic search for information through simple but expensive geometric calculations to the connection that the information itself has concerning the rest of the territory. The study of the natural areas identified by the European project Natura 2000 and their interconnection through the use of ecological corridors is an example of how difficult it can be to define, study and represent a complex problem. In order to simplify the mentioned tasks, allowing specialists to consult valuable data, the paper exposes how ECGraph works. This open source software allows extracting important information from any corridor related to areas of the Natura 2000 project, and can potentially be generalized to any similar case.