1 of 4 raster overlay techniques examined to understand the properties of each. Using multiplication Boolean, the modeler can only observe the most suitable habitat results.

Technique 2 of 4 for Longhorn Sheep Habitat Suitability Analysis. The modeler has more content to observe when adding in the raster calculator. The results show a range of areas where the sheep could possibly be. However, the modeler doe not know which criteria makes up each area since all of the criteria are assigned a 1.

This technique sets a unique ID to each of the criteria before adding them up (3,5,7, 11, and 17). This method allows the modeler to understand which criteria are summed up in various hectares. However, this methodology is difficult visualizing because humans can only interpret 5-7 different colors with ease. 32 different hues make it extremely difficult to interpret.

This method is easy to interpret the results, however, to model environmental systems accurately the modeler must have significant understanding and reason to assign weights. There are three value system the modeler creates: the values regarding the criteria and how they are classified, suitability rankings 1-10 or 10-1, and the factor weight that assigns certain criteria a higher importance than others.

In modeling, it is good practice to develop a range of outcomes to present to stakeholders. There will always be sources of error and sensitivity analysis provides a way to illustrate how altering certain criteria affect the overall outcome. In this map the weight percentage was altered as part of the sensitivity.

Before a model is developed, it is good practice to chart out the processes. This is a process flow chart for Technique 4: Weighted Overlay. It helps the modeler stay organized and provide documentation for many purposes (legality, employee turnover, or reference).