[GRASSLIST:8613] Interpolating and mapping the output of ecosystem models with GRASS

[Luigi Ponti]

Dear GRASS Users Mailing List,

I would like to ask some advice on using GRASS to map the output of 
weather-driven population models for ecosystem analysis.

Our group is considering GRASS as a way to map the georeferenced output 
of the ecosystem models developed in our lab. In short, once 
meteorological data (i.e., model input) and geographic data are acquired 
for a particular landscape, an ecosystem model is run for each weather 
station location of interest. Therefore, the output of the model 
consists of a summary table combining the point locations of the weather 
stations with the output value of interest.

In order for this output to be mapped, an interpolation process is 
needed to retrieve the spatial distribution of the values estimated by 
the ecological model across the landscape. Another critical point is the 
ability to 'clip' and eliminate areas which are not of interest to the 
study, such as elevation which is too high, or other tracts of land or 
water which are not of interest to the study.

Would GRASS be able to interpolate such spatial distribution and also 
'clip' the out-of-interest areas? I am new to GRASS but I assume that 
such capabilities are, at least potentially, already in place in GRASS. 
What I cannot figure out is the amount of work needed to implement such 
functionalities starting from the summary output table that I mentioned 
above. Any hint is appreciated.

Kind regards,

Luigi Ponti
Visiting Scholar
University of California, Berkeley
Environmental Science, Policy & Management
lponti at nature.berkeley.edu