Quoted from: https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3800(94)00151-0 Veldkamp, A. and Fresco, L.O., 1996. CLUE: a conceptual model to study the conversion of land use and its effects. Ecological modelling, 85(2-3), pp.253-270.

CLUE serves as a tool through which the various biophysical and human land use drivers can be combined and interact in determining land use within a region. In order to demonstrate the potential of CLUE applications, various example assumptions about most discussed drivers are made and incorporated within the prototype. Both the simulated example region and the simulated time span are currently dimension-neutral. Further calibration and application will require also careful tuning of both spatial and temporal scales. 

For an imaginary region, CLUE simulates land use conversion and change in space and time as a result of interacting biophysical and human drivers. Within CLUE regional land use changes only if biophysical and human demands cannot be met by existing land use. After a regional assessment of land use needs, the final land use decisions are made on a local grid level. Important biophysical drivers are local biophysical suitability and their fluctuations, land use history, spatial distribution of infrastructure and land use, and the occurrence of pests and diseases. Important human land use drivers in CLUE are population size and density, regional and international technology level, level of affluence, target markets for products, economical conditions, attitudes and values, and the applied land use strategy. Initial CLUE simulations suggest that the integrated land use approach of CLUE can make a more realistic contribution to predictions of future land cover than currently used biophysical equilibrium approaches.

Quoted from: https://www.environmentalgeography.nl/site/data-models/data/clue-model/

The different versions of the CLUE model (CLUE, CLUE-s, Dyna-CLUE and CLUE-Scanner) are among the most frequently used land use models globally. Applications range from small regions to entire continents. The CLUE model is a flexible, generic land use modeling framework which allows scale and context specific specification for regional applications.

The model is distributed as freeware and can be downloaded together with tutorials through the link on this web-site. It is not possible to provide support on the application unless in the context of collaborative projects.

The original idea of the first CLUE model version was made by Tom Veldkamp and Louise Fresco and published in 1996. Later versions were created by Peter Verburg in collaboration with colleagues at Wageningen University and worldwide. The CLUE-Scanner version is an implementation of the Dyna-CLUE version in DMS software of ObjectVision