TopoTrail
Topographic suitability, access zones and least-cost routes for preliminary trail and field planning, from a single DEM.
TopoTrail is a QGIS plugin designed to support preliminary planning of new trails, access routes and field corridors in natural areas and protected areas. The tool models topographic suitability using a Digital Elevation Model, slope, curvature, relative topographic risk, suitability classes, potential access zones, suggested least-cost routes and access corridors. Drainage is derived from the DEM itself, and each watercourse the route crosses is listed; roads, pastures, existing trails, land cover and legal restrictions are not detected and should be used as complementary evidence in QGIS. No external Python dependencies: it needs only NumPy and GDAL/OGR, which every QGIS installation ships, and uses SciPy when available. Developed by Luan da Silva Cortes Maciel (MACIEL, L. S. C.) as a product of his master's research in Biodiversity in Protected Areas, associated with the Escola Nacional de Botanica Tropical and Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, under the supervision of Leandro Freitas. Associated project: Herpeto Mantiqueira.