Land cover changes resulting from urban sprawl, transportation network densification, and agricultural practices lead the destruction and fragmentation of wildlife habitats, which can put the survival of animal and vegetal populations at risk. Considering spatial ecological networks and their connectivity in spatial planning and land use management is therefore crucial for preserving biodiversity. In this context, modelling ecological networks is critical to assess their connectivity, propose and prioritize conservation measures (for instance ecological restoration), and compare the impact of prospective development scenarios. This spatial modelling approach complements in highly practical ways other field-based surveys and analyses commonly implemented in ecology.

Graphab is a software program devoted to the modelling of habitat networks using graph-theoretical appraoches. It is the only tool of its kind combining theconstruction and visualization of graphs, with subsequent connectivity analyses and links with external geographical or biological data. It is easily compatible with Geographical Information Systems.