Modeling Pastoral Mobility

We use a combination of spatial and ethnographic analyses to study and model pastoral mobility at different spatiotemporal scales, ranging from the annual transhumance to daily grazing movements. We are also using semi-structured interviews and GPS technology to map what I call “the invisible infrastructure” of mobile pastoralists, e.g., transhumance corridors, campsites, watering places. However, mapping mobile pastoralists is complicated and requires an integration of ethnographic and spatial analysis. We are currently in the process of modeling pastoral mobility using population level data using a range of analytical approaches. We have written a number of papers that explore the complexities of using GPS to map mobile pastoralists and the challenges of mapping and protecting pastoral infrastructures, like watering places, campsites, and transhumance corridors. 

Publications