Land Change Modeler and Sub-models

Developing Sub-models in Land Change Modeler (LCM)

You can only have 9 transitions in a sub-model. Although this is a hard limitation, when there are more than 9 it can be difficult to say that all transitions can be explained by the exact same drivers of change. To get around this limitation and to develop a more realistic model of historical change, create additional sub-models with similar, but different drivers. Here are the steps to do this.

1. Identify which transitions can be explained by the same drivers. If, for example, you have 3 sets of transitions, you would create 3 sub-model names in the first panel (Transitions Sub-Models: Status) by selecting each of your 18 transitions and assigning them a name in the Sub-Model Name entry box. 

In the above example, you may have three transitions to model, deforest, urban, grassland. For each transition pair, enter one of these three sub-model names.

2. In the Transition Sub-model Structure panel, enter the drivers for the sub-model selected. You select the sub-model in the first panel using the drop-down menu for "Sub-model to be Evaluated".

3. After identifying the drivers for the sub-model, create the transition potential map under the Run Transition Sub-Model panel. 

4. Go through the process above for each sub-model. Using the above example, you would do this three times for each of your sub-models. Once you have each transitions potential map for each sub-model, then proceed to the prediction.

What this allows you to do is evaluate each sub-model separately. It sounds complicated at first, but in the long run it reduces the complexity of developing a model of change. In the example above with 18 transitions, you need to think through carefully which transitions to group based on determinants of change.

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4 Comments

  • 0
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    Murtala Dangulla

    Thank you, but is there any need for additional legend below the change map (to explain the clors for instance) as produced by the modeler: Example below.

  • 0
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    Vagner Felix

    I have a problem! When I choose to work with the nine transition classes. And later, I go to the Run transition sub-model menu and ask to create the potential transition files, the program is not generating all the possible transitions archives. A message like: Map 1_5 not found appears. And consequently, I can not go forward in the generation of future scenarios. What should I do to be able to generate all possible transitions files for each sub-model?

    Edited by Vagner Felix
  • 0
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    Yuliana Celiz

    i want to generate two comparisons maps in LCM, the problem is that i don´t habe a background or 0 class value for create de news ID in harmonize legends step. it is posible to not modify the original legends?

    Thnks

  • 0
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    CAMILA TAMARA ORELLANA PEREIRA

    Hi, I have the following doubt: what if I can not enter the drives for the sub model, since I do not have them? In what would change the results?

    Thanks.

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