We’re excited to announce the release of omniscape SyncroSim v2.9.0. Along with a suite of small improvements, this release brings…
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Model ensembles are here in omniscape SyncroSim v2.9.0
September 30, 2026
We're excited to announce the release of omniscape SyncroSim v2.9.0. Along with a suite of small improvements, this release brings two big changes including a new ensemble allowing users to combine several connectivity model runs into one result and the ability to include resistance modifiers.
Combine multiple models into one with the new ensemble feature
Have you ever run your connectivity analyses multiple times, tweaking the inputs, assumptions, or data sources and wondered what those combined results might look like? This release makes that easy. The new ensemble transformer lets you combine several connectivity runs into a single, weighted result, so you get a more complete picture of connectivity across your landscape instead of relying on just one model. You choose how much each run should count toward the final result.
This new transformer also runs before the raw omniscape results are transformed into categorical outputs, so you can seamlessly go from generating a combined model result to applying your classification of choice. We've also made the process more resilient to gaps in your data, so a few missing values in one run won't throw off your combined result.
Fine-tune resistance with modifier layers
Land cover alone doesn't always capture how difficult it is to move through a landscape. The new resistance modifiers feature lets you specify additional layers that adjust the resistance assigned to each cell. For example, you can combine elevation with the resistance from land cover so that steep slopes are more resistant to movement than flat ground with the same land cover type. The result is a resistance surface that better reflects the factors shaping connectivity in your study area.
More consistent resistance results
Two bugs with the resistance reclassification have been fixed in this latest release. In earlier versions, resistance values could be incorrectly reclassified behind the scenes, and reclassification rules could sometimes get applied in the wrong order. We've also improved how conductance is calculated and added the ability to rescale resistance values with configurable caps, giving you more control over how your inputs are prepared before a run.
Other improvements
We've also updated this omniscape tutorial to document the use of resistance modifiers and removed outdated developer documentation from the repo. We have also added better error handling for a variety of use cases including a known bug in the latest release of Julia when using omniscape.
Learn more
Update to omniscape SyncroSim v2.9.0 through the SyncroSim package manager, or visit apexrms.github.io/omniscape to learn more about the package. For the full technical changelog, see the omniscape GitHub repo. Questions or feedback? Join the conversation on the SyncroSim Community Forum.