GIS SPECIALIST WANTED FOR SHORT ECOLOGICAL MODELLING REVIEW

I have developed a continental-scale GIS friction surface to explore possible directions and corridors of long-distance primate dispersal across eastern and southern Africa (using QGIS).

Before developing the model further, I would like an independent specialist to advise whether applying relative costs to landscape features, followed by least-cost path analysis, is a scientifically reasonable way of generating conditional hypotheses about possible animal dispersal.

This is an initial conceptual review only. I am not asking anyone to reproduce the model, inspect the complete workflow, process large datasets or verify every GIS operation.

The task would involve:

reading a short description of the model;

examining a simple diagram and example output;

discussing the approach with me for approximately one hour;

advising on its validity, limitations and whether broader corridor analysis would strengthen it;

providing a short written summary of your opinion.

I am particularly interested in people with experience in ecological resistance surfaces, animal movement or dispersal modelling, landscape connectivity or least-cost corridor analysis.

Please briefly describe your relevant experience and provide an example of comparable work. A generic knowledge of QGIS or ArcGIS alone will not be sufficient.

This may lead to additional separately agreed work, but there is no expectation of involvement beyond this initial review.