The Physical method is parameterized with at least an Input Raster and a Connection Type. A raster layer of habitat is analyzed to determine areas that meet the specified type (Figure 26). A default output name of “InputRasterName_SuitabilitySetting_ConnectionType.tif” is provided but can be modified by the user.
Figure 26. Patches - Create Patches - Physical Method is a habitat functionality tool.
Clicking the Run button starts the physical method algorithm (Figure 27). The algorithm follows 1) apply Minimum Chunk Area (if option is selected) to the Input Raster, 2) apply Connection Type, and 3) save the Output Raster. Output attributes include patch identifier, count of raster cells per patch, patch area, and patch suitable area.
Figure 27. Applying Patches - Create Patches - Physical Method involves several steps.
Figure 28 shows a patch raster using the Physical patch method for Riparian tree establishment that was generated using the Connected Edge setting for defining patches. The small thumbnail image in the map portion of the figure shows five patches (wholly or partially circled) that would have been identified as a single patch if the Connected Point setting was used.
Figure 28. Output of the Patches - Create Patches - Physical Method with the Connected Edge method.