RANGES8 builds on Ranges6 that introduced Ranges with a Windows interface. The abandonment of BBC routines has made the analyses faster, and the graphical displays easier to use and export. Now with the ability to digitise maps on-screen Ranges8 becomes a complete stand-alone GIS system, with the ability to import files from larger GIS systems that do not have such sophisticated analyses for animal movements.

RANGES7 was a development version that due to time and financial constraints was never released fully. Therefore the Lite and Demo versions are being used to provide a limited version for those with fewer requirements and lower budgets and as a way to introduce researchers to the power of Ranges8.

The RANGES suite of programmes has been evolving within the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (now Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) since 1984. RANGES IV was made available for general use in 1990, and was used at more than 200 sites worldwide. In 1992, agreement was reached with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and with researchers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (now National Biological Service) and Greenfalk consultancy, to cooperate in the development of RANGES V. The new suite was designed to cover all widely-used analyses and for future expansion. RANGES is now licensed to more than 400 sites worldwide. It not only remains the most comprehensive display and analysis system for radio-tag data, but is also used for other animal location data and for botanical studies.

If there is anything that you would like Ranges to do, that is not currently covered, please email: info@anatrack.com.