Where are your animals, what are they doing, and with whom? The answer in one map.
Map space usage, identify zone preferences, measure behavioural diversity and visualise the social dynamics of your groups — from simple instantaneous observations accumulated over time.
- 2D & 3D Heatmap
- Usage diversity
- Social Network
Animal Welfare Monitor
Animal Welfare Monitor
Scan sampling: a simple method to bring out how space is really used
A keeper enters the observation area. For each visible animal, they record where it is in the enclosure and what it is doing at that precise moment. This is scan sampling — an instantaneous snapshot of the group.
A single scan does not reveal much. But when you accumulate dozens, hundreds of them over weeks and months, patterns emerge. The dominant female always occupies the elevated platform. The juvenile spends 70% of its time in the zone near the viewing window. Since the new water feature was added, the northern zone is three times more frequented.
This information is invaluable for animal welfare: it reveals whether space is used in a balanced way, whether animals are marginalised, and whether enclosure modifications are fulfilling their purpose.
AKONGO transforms these field observations into heatmaps, diversity indicators, social networks, and proximity matrices. Eight scientific analysis tools, accessible without statistical expertise, that give meaning to every scan your teams perform.
Space usage, visible at a glance
The heatmap overlays all observed positions onto the enclosure floor plan and transforms them into a colour-coded map: the most frequented zones appear in warm colours, neglected zones in cool colours.
14 scientific colour palettes are available, including 4 palettes adapted for colourblind users. The map is overlaid onto the real enclosure plan: you can directly see which hotspot corresponds to which structure.
- Zones actually used by animals identified instantly
- Systematically avoided zones — potentially problematic
- Impact of modifications visible through before/after comparison
- Interactive drill-down: click on a hotspot to explore species, individuals and behaviours
In height and over time: two additional dimensions
The 3D heatmap represents space usage in three dimensions: coloured cubes whose size and intensity reflect observation frequency. The scene is fully navigable — rotation, zoom, adjustable transparency.
The time-split feature breaks down the heatmap into configurable hourly slices (1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, or 12h), revealing how space usage evolves throughout the day. Spatial circadian rhythms, invisible on a cumulative map, become readable.
- Vertical dimension essential for primates, birds and arboreal mammals
- Percentage mode to compare hourly slices against each other
- Observation counter per hour under each cell
- Dynamic legend that adjusts to each time slice
Who is close to whom? Social bonds revealed by positions
The social network represents each animal as a node, and each proximity relationship as a link. The more often two animals are close together, the thicker the link between them. Central individuals appear larger, isolated individuals remain on the periphery.
The proximity matrix shows, for each pair of animals, how often they were observed near each other. The avoidance analysis identifies pairs that systematically maintain distance — a signal of latent conflict or incompatibility.
- Degree centrality: how many close companions does an animal have?
- Betweenness centrality: does it bridge sub-groups?
- Eigenvector centrality: is it connected to well-connected individuals?
- Avoidance score: detection of latent conflicts and incompatibilities
What scan analysis changes for your facility
- Space usage, measured
The heatmap transforms point observations into an objective map of space usage. You know exactly which zones work and which are ignored.
- Social dynamics revealed
The social network, proximity matrix and avoidance analysis show relationships between individuals. Affinities, conflicts, isolation: invisible bonds become measurable.
- Accessible scientific scores
Diversity indices, network centralities, avoidance scores: scientific metrics calculated automatically, interpreted in plain language.
- Before / after, objectively
The comparison mode with harmonised scales objectively measures the impact of your interventions: redesign, group change, enrichment addition.
- Daily rhythms mapped
Time-split and hourly filters reveal how space usage changes throughout the day. The spatial circadian rhythms of your animals become readable.
- Publication-ready
Export in three formats (Excel, CSV, JSON), visualisation screenshots, contextual data included. Your reports and publications are fed directly from the tool.
Explore scan analysis
Connected modules
Scan analysis integrates into the AKONGO ecosystem to enrich and leverage collected data.
- Collection campaignsScans are collected as part of structured campaigns with defined protocol, duration and team.Explore module
- Behavioural analysisScan sampling complements focal observation and questionnaire-based assessments.Explore module
- Enclosure managementEnclosure plans with zones serve as base maps for heatmaps.Explore module
- Social viewProximity and avoidance data feed into the overall social analysis.Explore module
- RafikiThe AI assistant can analyse spatial and behavioural trends from scans.Explore module
- EnrichmentsMeasure the impact of enrichments on space usage by comparing before and after.Explore module
Transform your observations into knowledge
Learn more about our solutions
- Tools
Explore our comprehensive range of tools optimised for managing and analyzing animal welfare data.
- Training
Discover our training organisation and develop your expertise in ethology and animal welfare.