In the rapidly evolving field of ecology, understanding animal behavior and movement in their natural habitats remains an invaluable yet challenging endeavor. Researchers at The Ohio State University have pioneered the development of an innovative software suite, ECODATA, designed to transform the way scientists and wildlife managers explore and interpret animal movements in conjunction with environmental and human-induced factors. This open-source toolbox leverages advances in geospatial big data and remote sensing technologies to provide dynamic visualizations that deepen insight into animal ecology and conservation efforts.
ECODATA addresses a significant challenge in ecological research: the integration and synthesis of vast, complex datasets derived from wildlife tracking devices, satellite imagery, and geospatial data streams. Traditional methods often fall short in managing these voluminous data, leading to underutilized information and missed opportunities for discovery. By creating customizable animated maps that layer animal location data with environmental variables, ECODATA enables researchers to observe temporal and spatial patterns with unprecedented clarity and precision.
The core innovation of ECODATA lies in its ability to seamlessly combine direct observations of animal movements with multifaceted environmental contexts, including seasonal vegetation dynamics, road networks, climate variables, and anthropogenic structures. This fusion is accomplished through advanced data processing pipelines that transform raw tracking points and remote sensing inputs into a series of time-resolved image frames. These frames generate animations, offering a compelling narrative of how animals interact with fluctuating ecosystems over time.
One compelling application of ECODATA was demonstrated through a study of elk and wolf populations near Banff National Park in Canada. The animations revealed the migratory patterns of these species, highlighting critical temporal overlaps between animal presence near highway corridors and peak traffic periods. Such visual evidence underscores potential risk areas and informs mitigation strategies like wildlife crossing structures. By visually correlating movement data with environmental and human factors, ECODATA facilitates a richer understanding of how animals navigate increasingly fragmented landscapes.
Beyond ecological research, ECODATA serves as a potent tool for wildlife management and conservation policy. In a second case study examining caribou during their birthing season, the software’s visualizations uncovered previously unrecognized territories within the caribou’s seasonal range. This discovery has significant implications for habitat protection and management decisions, as it provides concrete spatial-temporal data to support conservation measures that are critical for the species’ survival.
A standout feature of this software is its accessibility. Unlike prior tools which often demanded users possess substantial programming expertise, ECODATA offers flexibility that lowers the barrier to entry. User-friendly interfaces and customizable map layers enable ecologists, wildlife professionals, and policy makers—regardless of their technical backgrounds—to harness the power of large environmental datasets. This democratization of complex data analysis promotes a broader engagement with ecological insights and fosters informed decision-making.
Professor Gil Bohrer, a civil and geodetic engineering expert at Ohio State, emphasized the transformative potential of ECODATA in making complex wildlife data approachable. “While we are not generating new data per se,” he explained, “our platform converts difficult-to-use environmental datasets into accessible, understandable animations. This capability helps users, from scientists to conservationists, rapidly decipher what’s happening in dynamic ecosystems or validate emerging hypotheses with visual evidence.”
The software architecture behind ECODATA capitalizes on advancements in remote sensing and geospatial analytics, utilizing satellite data covering vast temporal and spatial scales. Coupled with high-accuracy GPS wildlife collars, it enables the dynamic overlay of animal movement with fluctuating environmental features such as vegetation greenness indices or temperature variations. These integrations facilitate multi-layered explorations where ecological phenomena can be studied in the context of both natural and anthropogenic changes.
The utility of ECODATA extends beyond academic inquiry, positioning it as a strategic asset in fostering sustainable wildlife coexistence. By visualizing movement corridors and habitat utilization against infrastructure elements and natural cycles, the software equips wildlife managers with actionable intelligence. This can inform everything from the timing of traffic restrictions to the design and placement of protective crossings, thereby mitigating human-wildlife conflicts and supporting ecosystem resilience.
Importantly, the research team envisions ECODATA as a complementary tool that enhances, rather than replaces, existing ecological models and analytical methods. The customizable animations serve as intuitive supplements to traditional data analysis, inspiring deeper engagement and exploration. Scientists can employ these visualizations to generate new hypotheses, validate model predictions, or communicate findings to diverse stakeholders, including policymakers and the public.
The development of ECODATA benefits from a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, incorporating expertise from civil engineering, ecology, geospatial science, and wildlife management. Contributions came not only from Ohio State researchers but also involved partners from institutions including the University of Montana, North Carolina State University, and governmental wildlife agencies in Canada. This diversity of expertise has enriched the software’s capabilities and ensured its relevance across different ecological contexts.
Supported by NASA and the MathWorks MATLAB Community Toolbox Program, the software represents a significant leap toward integrating geospatial big data into ecological research. By offering an accessible and powerful visualization platform, ECODATA stands to accelerate scientific discoveries, improve wildlife management strategies, and ultimately aid in the preservation of biodiversity in an era of rapid environmental change.
As environmental challenges intensify globally, tools like ECODATA highlight the importance of marrying technological innovation with ecological insight. Through vivid, time-sensitive animations that articulate the nuanced interplay of animal behavior with changing landscapes, this toolbox promises to be an indispensable resource for scientists and conservationists striving to unravel and protect the natural world.
Subject of Research: Exploration and communication of animal movements alongside environmental and anthropogenic context using geospatial big data
Article Title: ECODATA: A toolbox to efficiently explore and communicate animal movements alongside environmental and anthropogenic context using geospatial big data
News Publication Date: 12-Sep-2025
Web References:
ECODATA documentation: https://ecodata-apps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
Published study in Methods in Ecology and Evolution: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.70141
References:
Methods in Ecology and Evolution, DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.70141
Keywords: Animals, Research methods, Modeling, Computer modeling, Environmental methods, Ecology
Tags: animal behavior visualization toolsanimal movement patterns analysiscustomizable animated maps for ecologyECODATA software suiteecological research innovationsenvironmental impact on wildlifegeospatial big data applicationsintegrating complex datasets in ecologyOhio State University researchopen-source ecological toolsremote sensing in conservationwildlife tracking technology
