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From COST Action FP0804: FORSYS

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== General System description == System name: Ecological Site Classification Acronym: ESC === Brief overview === The system enables the appropriate choice of tree species or NVC woodland type on the basis of site climate and soil quality. Built into the tool are methods to assess soil quality from soil type and indicator plants. For more information see [http://www.eforestry.gov.uk/forestdss Forest Research Decision Support Portal] (note registration required) [[Category:Help documents]] __TOC__ === Scope of the system === * tool encourages decision maker to discover new problems or opportunities by exposing to new information or results * tool helps decision makers in recognizing upcoming problems for which solutions have been developed previously * tool allows decision maker to actively create new knowledge when faced with a new problem and to develop novel solutions * tool allows decision maker to capture knowledge, making it available to decision makers who are seeking solutions from previously solved problems === System origin === *The system was developed in the 1990s but the origins can be traced to a publication by Anderson in the 1950s and earlier works that identified relationships between site quality and vegetation. * Development led by Duncan Ray. * Currently free to use at stand scale via web. * GIS/Batch versions applied in consultancy work. * Some use in public/private sector and in education. Well known. === Support for specific issues === Is the system designed to take into account specific uses? E.g. guidance on ways to characterize biodiversity, economic-biodiversity tradeoff analysis methods, risk assessment methods, landscape analysis methods, timber harvest effects, climate change effects, biological effects (pests, pathogens, invasives), fire,... === Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type === * Silvicultural * Certification * Conservation * Restoration * Development choices / land use zoning * Policy/intervention alternatives * Sustainability impact assessment (SIA) === Capability to support decision making phases === * Intelligence (gives user detailed site analysis - climate and soil parameters) * Design (provides site analysis in context of many themes) * Choice (allows user to vary species choice, management options) * Monitor (highlights risks which in theory could encourage monitoring) === Related systems === Describe (and/or link to) other systems related *Conifer Timber Quality Model *EMIS *Forest Gales *Harpps == Data and data models == === Typical spatial extent of application === Web based tool operates at stand scale, ca 1-5 hectares, batch GIS tool has generated regional and national scenarios. === Forest data input === Location via OS GB six figure grid reference, eg NT090950. User also supplies an FC soil type (eg 1g, 4, 7bz), lithology/geology, vegetation (indicator plants), results from soil survey (soil texture, rooting depth, soil class (dry|wet) and humus form. More data increases the accuracy of the analysis. === Type of information input from user (via GUI) === User selects one or more tree species for detailed analysis from an intermediate screen. == Models == === Forest models === Species suitability models based on AT5, CT, DAMS, MD, SMR, SNR. Models to predict SNR from indicator plants (via Hill Ellenberg/Wilson scores) and SMR from soil (AWC, rooting depth)/site (MD) properties. === Social models === N/a == Decision Support == === Definition of management interventions === Species or NVC woodland choice. Prescription enumerating all selected possibilities at stand level, or thematic GIS layers (eg Oak or Sitka Spruce suitability in a defined area of interest). === Typical temporal scale of application === Has some support for future climate scenarios, baseline data is from 1961-1990. === Types of decisions supported === *Management level **strategic decisions **administrative decisions **operating control decisions * Management function * planning decisions **organizing decisions **command decisions **control decisions ** coordination decisions *decision making situation **unilateral ** collegial **Bargaining / participative decision making === Decision-making processes and models === *Logic modeling *Operations research modeling **Direct approaches **Heuristic manipulation of simulation models *Multiple criteria/ranking *Other == Output == === Types of outputs === Stand version generates tables in HTML, thematic maps can be generated via a batch tool for visualisation in GIS, assuming suitable soil data is available. === Spatial analysis capabilities === * integrated capabilities * GIS links via batch tool. Limitations in this context due to availability of digital soil maps. * provides standard data import/export formats * allows spatial analysis, batch tool generates thematic layers === Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues === Evaluate interactions between different basic information types (biophysical, economic, social). Produce coordinated results for decision makers operating at different spatial scales facilitate social negotiation and learning == System == === System requirements === * Java library deployed on Linux and Windows. UI available at stand level via web, or batch system via command line. * Utilises many open source Java libraries, GRASS GIS or ArcGIS required for batch stage. Data currently managed in Oracle database or as raster files. * Beta trial === Architecture and major DSS components === 3 tier architecture ( UI, Models, Data) Web based UI using JSP, HTML, CSS Also desktop batch tool for GIS processing using Java. Models are implemented in java. Three key models are species suitability, indicator plants and soil properties calculator. Highly modular. Some simple web map services with Google Maps (not intended for operational use). Basic dataflow is location accesses site climate data, this and other user input data are then processed by the various models to generate outputs. === Usage === Used in education, public and private sector forestry and research. === Computational limitations === Longer runtime to compute national datasets. === User interface === Web UI requires some understanding of soil types, OS grid references, reference to geological maps. Interpretation of information can be challenging so support is being developed. === Documentation and support === Bulletin 124 describes the method, and version 1.7 is well documented. Version 2.0 no formal training avaiable to date. Support available via email. === Installation === * Prerequisite knowledge: Requires web browser. Server installation requires specialised skills and tools. Batch mode requires some configuration on host machine. Web browser for stand version. GIS batch tool requires Java 1.4, Grass and related ESC datasets. A spatial version also exists based on ArcView/Spatial Analyst. Server installation requires J2EE server such as Tomcat or Oracle Application Server and an oracle database. ==References== ===Cited references=== <references/> ===External resources===

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