Difference between revisions of "MELA"

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{{DSS, Wiki quality control
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|Has flag=N/A
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}}
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{{DSS, Name, responsible organisation and contact person
 +
|Has full name=MELA
 +
|Has acronym=MELA
 +
}}
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{{DSS, Software identification
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|Has software=MELA.Software
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}}
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{{DSS, Description
 +
|Has description=MELA is an operational decision support system developed and maintained by Metla (Finnish Forest Research Institute) based on its forest research.
 +
 +
This system has been used since the 1980s in the analyses of wood production possibilities and the impact of different harvest levels at national and regional scale in Finnlan
 +
|Has modelling scope=Economical indicators, Forest indicators, user defined
 +
|Has temporal scale=Long term (strategic)
 +
|Has spatial context=Spatial with no neighbourhood interrelations
 +
|Has spatial scale=Forest level, Regional/national level
 +
|Has objectives dimension=Multiple objectives
 +
|Has goods and services dimension=Market wood products
 +
|Has decision making dimension=Single decision maker
 +
|Has forest management goal=biomass estimation, carbon sequestration, economic evaluation, yield prediction, wood supply planning
 +
|Supports tree species=Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Silver birch (Betula pendula), Downy birch (Betula pubescens), Aspen (Populus tremula), Alder (Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa), Other coniferous species, Other deciduous species
 +
|Supports silvicultural regime=even-aged
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, Concrete application
 +
|Has number of users=N/A
 +
|Has number of real-life applications=N/A
 +
|Has utilisation in education=used by students
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, Decision support techniques used in the DSS
 +
|Has decision support techniques=MELA.Decision support techniques
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, Support of Knowledge Management
 +
|Has knowledge management processes=MELA.Knowledge management process
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, Support of social participation
 +
|Has support for social participation=MELA.Support of social participation
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, DSS development
 +
|Has DSS development=MELA.Description of DSS development
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS, Documentation
 +
|Has website=http://mela2.metla.fi/mela
 +
|Has manual=Yes
 +
|Has technical documentation=No
 +
|Has reference=GADOW, K.V., T. NUUTINEN et S. KELLOMÄKI (2008): Adaptative Design of Forested Landscapes. In GADOW, K.v. et T. PUKKALA (Eds.): Designing Green Landscapes. Springer, New York, pp 3-30.
 +
 +
EID, T. et К. HOBBELSTAD (2000): AVVIRK-2000: A Large-scale Forestry Scenario Model for Long-term Investment, Income and Harvest Analyses "Scand. J. For. Res." 15: 472-482. REDSVEN, V., H. HIRVELÄ, K. HÄRKÖNEN, O. SALMINEN et M. SIITONEN (2007): "MELA2007 Reference Manual". Metsäntutkimuslaitos - The Finnish Forest Research Institute. 642 p. NABUURS G.J. et R. PÄIVINEN (1996): Large Scale Forestry Scenario Models - a compilation and review. European Forest Institute Working Paper No. 10. Joensuu, Finland.
 +
}}
 
== General System description ==  
 
== General System description ==  
  
−
System name:  
+
System name: MELA
  
−
Acronym: MELA
+
Mela is Finnish for "Steering paddle of a rowing boat" (NABUURS et PÄIVINEN 1996)
  
 
=== Brief overview ===
 
=== Brief overview ===
 
MELA is an operational decision support system developed and maintained by Metla (Finnish Forest Research Institute) based on its forest research.
 
MELA is an operational decision support system developed and maintained by Metla (Finnish Forest Research Institute) based on its forest research.
  
−
[[Category:Not finished articles]]
+
This system has been used since the 1980s in the analyses of wood production possibilities and the impact of different harvest levels at national and regional scale in Finnland<ref>GADOW, K.v., T. NUUTINEN et S. KELLOMÄKI (2008): Adaptative Design of Forested Landscapes. In GADOW, K.v. et T. PUKKALA (Eds.): ''Designing Green Landscapes''. Springer, New York, pp 3-30.</ref>.
−
[[Category:Decision support system]]
+
−
[[Category:Finnish DSS]]
+
−
 
+
−
__TOC__
+
  
 
=== Scope of the system ===
 
=== Scope of the system ===
 
MELA is a general analysis tool for forest management planning. It can be used e.g. in the computational updating of forest resource data and in the search of effective or optimal production programs for forest areas (a property or a company). When linked with end-user applications for forest planning, the MELA software supports interactive planning. For example, the current MELA version provides more diversified and detailed information for taking into account errors and risk. Furthermore, MELA allows flexible combinations of various data sources and models to improve cost-efficiency and effectiveness of forest inventory and planning.
 
MELA is a general analysis tool for forest management planning. It can be used e.g. in the computational updating of forest resource data and in the search of effective or optimal production programs for forest areas (a property or a company). When linked with end-user applications for forest planning, the MELA software supports interactive planning. For example, the current MELA version provides more diversified and detailed information for taking into account errors and risk. Furthermore, MELA allows flexible combinations of various data sources and models to improve cost-efficiency and effectiveness of forest inventory and planning.
 +
 +
MELA consists of two separate programs communicating with each others via MELA system files:
 +
# MELASIM, an automated stand simulator based on individual trees.
 +
# MELAOPT, the optimisation package based on the linear programming package, [[JLP]].
  
 
=== System origin ===
 
=== System origin ===
−
* It was developed by Metla researchers.
+
* MELA is developed by the MELA Team, that belongs to METLA (The Finnish Forest Research Institute).
−
* how was it developed
+
* The most recent version of MELA is MELA2007, released in December 2007. The first MELA version dates from 1983. Since then, eight improved versions have been launched (MELA96, MELA98, MELA99, MELA2000, MELA2002, MELA2004, MELA2005 and MELA2007)
−
* is it a commercial product
+
* MELA system has been installed by a number of clients in state, company and private forestry since its first release in the 1980s.
−
* does it have real-life application cases
+
 
 +
=== Support for specific issues  ===
 +
The MELA model provides for a large number of control variables (manipulation possibilities) of biological and economic nature<ref>EID, T. et K. HOBBELSTAD (2000): AVVIRK-2000: A Large-scale Forestry Scenario Model for Long-term Investment, Income and Harvest Analyses ‘’Scand. J. For. Res.’’ 15: 472-482.</ref>.
  
 
=== Related systems  ===
 
=== Related systems  ===
 +
* [[MELA/DemoMELA|DemoMELA]]
 
* [[MELA/NettiMELA|NettiMELA]]
 
* [[MELA/NettiMELA|NettiMELA]]
 +
* [[GAYA-JLP]]
 +
 +
 +
== Data and data models ==
 +
 +
=== Typical spatial extent of application  ===
 +
Although being extensively used in national and regional planning, MELA is not only used at this scale scenarios, but also in ownership planning.
 +
 +
=== Forest data input  ===
 +
The main simulation variables for trees in the current simulator version are number of stems/ha (that each tree represents), tree species, diameter, height and age. Simulation instructions and some obligatory system files must also be provided in the MELASIM input files.
 +
 +
The input for MELAOPT consists of materials such as initial forest resource data, management schedule data, optimisation problem definitions and some obligatory system files.
 +
 +
Forest resources and running information data is supplied as MELA data files. Any kind of user-supplied initial data files have to be compatible with the MELA software. MELA extensions for updating and for the conversion of initial data and stand simulation instructions are available for the interface development.
 +
 +
The following tree species are available:
 +
* Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
 +
* Norway spruce (Picea abies)
 +
* Silver birch (Betula pendula)
 +
* Downy birch (Betula pubescens)
 +
* Aspen (Populus tremula)
 +
* Alder (Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa)
 +
* Other coniferous species
 +
* Other deciduous species
 +
 +
 +
== Models ==
 +
 +
=== Forest models ===
 +
MELA simulates a finite number of feasible and alternative management schedules (options) for the management units over the chosen calculation period automatically according to the given simulation instructions. Management schedules differ from each other, for example, in timing of management activities. After simulation MELA can be used to select from these options simultaneously both a production programme for the whole forest area and corresponding management schedules for the individual management units according to the optimisation problem (goals and restrictions) defined by the user.
 +
 +
 +
== Decision Support ==
 +
 +
=== Definition of management interventions ===
 +
In MELA, the management of forests is endogenous, i.e. the decision when and how to cut an individual management unit is based on the user-defined goals and restrictions concerning the production or status of the whole forest area and domains in question over the planning period. The growth, felling regimes and the development of growing stock are the results of the analysis.
 +
 +
=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
 +
MELA is typically used for strategic planning. However, longer calculation periods than 50 years should not be used due to current models of natural processes according to the authors (NABUURS et PÄIVINEN 1996).
 +
 +
=== Decision-making processes and models ===
 +
* Linear programming
 +
 +
 +
== Output ==
 +
 +
=== Types of  outputs ===
 +
 +
The current MELA provides results both in the form of table type reports directly for users and in the form of files for further processing by user programs or commercial software for creating tables, graphics, maps, etc.
 +
 +
The information provided by the output files differs from the MELASIM and the MELAOPT modules. MELASIM output information will be management schedule data and forest level summary reports ready to be used by MELAOPT. On the other hand, MELAOPT output information may be forest level solution reports, management schedule (stand level solution) reports, shadow price reports, cost of change reports, or forest level summary data for further processing.
 +
 +
=== Spatial analysis capabilities  ===
 +
No adjacency constraints can be specified. Instead, constrains can be provided for any (overlapping) set of management units.
 +
 +
There is a moderate GIS connection. Results can be presented on large-scale maps.
 +
 +
 +
== System ==
 +
 +
=== System requirements  ===
 +
MELA software is currently available in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Other operating systems suitability should be studied case by case.
 +
 +
=== Architecture and major DSS components ===
 +
It was programmed in FORTRAN, it is portable to DOS, Windows, OS/2, VMS, and several UNIX environments.
 +
 +
The two principal components of the MELA software are the MELASIM and the MELAOPT modules. Other extensions area also available.
 +
 +
=== Usage ===
 +
The MELA software can be used as a forest management planning module of stand information systems in state, private and industrial forestry.
 +
 +
=== Computational limitations ===
 +
The capacity of MELASIM and MELAOPT depends on the program version being used.
 +
 +
=== User interface ===
 +
The MELA programs have a command line user interface. Command lines are related and explained in the reference manual.
 +
 +
MELA can be characterised as not user-friendly at present. A wide range of capabilities and expertise is required by the user.
 +
 +
=== Documentation and support ===
 +
A very extensive and complete reference manual has been published. It is free to download together with previous versions of MELA manuals in the [http://mela2.metla.fi/mela/julkaisut/oppaat.htm MELA website]. A telephone answering and advising service is also available.
 +
 +
=== Installation ===
 +
* Demo: A demo version ready to free online use previous registration is offered under the [[MELA/DemoMELA|DemoMELA]].
 +
 +
 +
==References==
 +
 +
===Cited references===
 +
<references/>
 +
 +
===External resources===
 +
* [http://mela2.metla.fi/mela/ MELA website (in Finnish)]
 +
* REDSVEN, V., H. HIRVELÄ, K. HÄRKÖNEN, O. SALMINEN et M. SIITONEN (2007): ‘’MELA2007 Reference Manual’’. Metsäntutkimuslaitos - The Finnish Forest Research Institute. 642 p.
 +
* NABUURS G.J. et R. PÄIVINEN (1996): ''Large Scale Forestry Scenario Models - a compilation and review''. European Forest Institute Working Paper No. 10. Joensuu, Finland.

Latest revision as of 16:19, 2 April 2013

Wiki quality control

Has flag N/A

Name, responsible organisation and contact person

Has full name MELA
Has acronym MELA
Has wiki contact person
Has wiki contact e-mail

Software identification

Has software MELA.Software

Description

Has description MELA is an operational decision support system developed and maintained by Metla (Finnish Forest Research Institute) based on its forest research.

This system has been used since the 1980s in the analyses of wood production possibilities and the impact of different harvest levels at national and regional scale in Finnlan

Has modelling scope Economical indicators, Forest indicators, user defined
Has temporal scale Long term (strategic)
Has spatial context Spatial with no neighbourhood interrelations
Has spatial scale Forest level, Regional/national level
Has objectives dimension Multiple objectives
Has related DSS
Has goods and services dimension Market wood products
Has decision making dimension Single decision maker
Has forest management goal biomass estimation, carbon sequestration, economic evaluation, yield prediction, wood supply planning
Supports tree species Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Silver birch (Betula pendula), Downy birch (Betula pubescens), Aspen (Populus tremula), Alder (Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa), Other coniferous species, Other deciduous species
Supports silvicultural regime even-aged

Concrete application

Has typical use case
Has user profile
Has country
Has references about examples of application
Has number of users N/A
Has number of real-life applications N/A
Has utilisation in education used by students
Has research project reference
Has tool dissemination

Decision support techniques used in the DSS

Has decision support techniques MELA.Decision support techniques

Support of Knowledge Management

Has knowledge management processes MELA.Knowledge management process

Support of social participation

Has support for social participation MELA.Support of social participation

DSS development

Has DSS development MELA.Description of DSS development

Documentation

Has website http://mela2.metla.fi/mela
Has online demo
Has manual Yes
Has technical documentation No
Has reference GADOW, K.V., T. NUUTINEN et S. KELLOMÄKI (2008): Adaptative Design of Forested Landscapes. In GADOW, K.v. et T. PUKKALA (Eds.): Designing Green Landscapes. Springer, New York, pp 3-30.

EID, T. et К. HOBBELSTAD (2000): AVVIRK-2000: A Large-scale Forestry Scenario Model for Long-term Investment, Income and Harvest Analyses "Scand. J. For. Res." 15: 472-482. REDSVEN, V., H. HIRVELÄ, K. HÄRKÖNEN, O. SALMINEN et M. SIITONEN (2007): "MELA2007 Reference Manual". Metsäntutkimuslaitos - The Finnish Forest Research Institute. 642 p. NABUURS G.J. et R. PÄIVINEN (1996): Large Scale Forestry Scenario Models - a compilation and review. European Forest Institute Working Paper No. 10. Joensuu, Finland.

General System description

System name: MELA

Mela is Finnish for "Steering paddle of a rowing boat" (NABUURS et PÄIVINEN 1996)

Brief overview

MELA is an operational decision support system developed and maintained by Metla (Finnish Forest Research Institute) based on its forest research.

This system has been used since the 1980s in the analyses of wood production possibilities and the impact of different harvest levels at national and regional scale in Finnland[1].

Scope of the system

MELA is a general analysis tool for forest management planning. It can be used e.g. in the computational updating of forest resource data and in the search of effective or optimal production programs for forest areas (a property or a company). When linked with end-user applications for forest planning, the MELA software supports interactive planning. For example, the current MELA version provides more diversified and detailed information for taking into account errors and risk. Furthermore, MELA allows flexible combinations of various data sources and models to improve cost-efficiency and effectiveness of forest inventory and planning.

MELA consists of two separate programs communicating with each others via MELA system files:

  1. MELASIM, an automated stand simulator based on individual trees.
  2. MELAOPT, the optimisation package based on the linear programming package, JLP.

System origin

  • MELA is developed by the MELA Team, that belongs to METLA (The Finnish Forest Research Institute).
  • The most recent version of MELA is MELA2007, released in December 2007. The first MELA version dates from 1983. Since then, eight improved versions have been launched (MELA96, MELA98, MELA99, MELA2000, MELA2002, MELA2004, MELA2005 and MELA2007)
  • MELA system has been installed by a number of clients in state, company and private forestry since its first release in the 1980s.

Support for specific issues

The MELA model provides for a large number of control variables (manipulation possibilities) of biological and economic nature[2].

Related systems


Data and data models

Typical spatial extent of application

Although being extensively used in national and regional planning, MELA is not only used at this scale scenarios, but also in ownership planning.

Forest data input

The main simulation variables for trees in the current simulator version are number of stems/ha (that each tree represents), tree species, diameter, height and age. Simulation instructions and some obligatory system files must also be provided in the MELASIM input files.

The input for MELAOPT consists of materials such as initial forest resource data, management schedule data, optimisation problem definitions and some obligatory system files.

Forest resources and running information data is supplied as MELA data files. Any kind of user-supplied initial data files have to be compatible with the MELA software. MELA extensions for updating and for the conversion of initial data and stand simulation instructions are available for the interface development.

The following tree species are available:

  • Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
  • Norway spruce (Picea abies)
  • Silver birch (Betula pendula)
  • Downy birch (Betula pubescens)
  • Aspen (Populus tremula)
  • Alder (Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa)
  • Other coniferous species
  • Other deciduous species


Models

Forest models

MELA simulates a finite number of feasible and alternative management schedules (options) for the management units over the chosen calculation period automatically according to the given simulation instructions. Management schedules differ from each other, for example, in timing of management activities. After simulation MELA can be used to select from these options simultaneously both a production programme for the whole forest area and corresponding management schedules for the individual management units according to the optimisation problem (goals and restrictions) defined by the user.


Decision Support

Definition of management interventions

In MELA, the management of forests is endogenous, i.e. the decision when and how to cut an individual management unit is based on the user-defined goals and restrictions concerning the production or status of the whole forest area and domains in question over the planning period. The growth, felling regimes and the development of growing stock are the results of the analysis.

Typical temporal scale of application

MELA is typically used for strategic planning. However, longer calculation periods than 50 years should not be used due to current models of natural processes according to the authors (NABUURS et PÄIVINEN 1996).

Decision-making processes and models

  • Linear programming


Output

Types of outputs

The current MELA provides results both in the form of table type reports directly for users and in the form of files for further processing by user programs or commercial software for creating tables, graphics, maps, etc.

The information provided by the output files differs from the MELASIM and the MELAOPT modules. MELASIM output information will be management schedule data and forest level summary reports ready to be used by MELAOPT. On the other hand, MELAOPT output information may be forest level solution reports, management schedule (stand level solution) reports, shadow price reports, cost of change reports, or forest level summary data for further processing.

Spatial analysis capabilities

No adjacency constraints can be specified. Instead, constrains can be provided for any (overlapping) set of management units.

There is a moderate GIS connection. Results can be presented on large-scale maps.


System

System requirements

MELA software is currently available in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Other operating systems suitability should be studied case by case.

Architecture and major DSS components

It was programmed in FORTRAN, it is portable to DOS, Windows, OS/2, VMS, and several UNIX environments.

The two principal components of the MELA software are the MELASIM and the MELAOPT modules. Other extensions area also available.

Usage

The MELA software can be used as a forest management planning module of stand information systems in state, private and industrial forestry.

Computational limitations

The capacity of MELASIM and MELAOPT depends on the program version being used.

User interface

The MELA programs have a command line user interface. Command lines are related and explained in the reference manual.

MELA can be characterised as not user-friendly at present. A wide range of capabilities and expertise is required by the user.

Documentation and support

A very extensive and complete reference manual has been published. It is free to download together with previous versions of MELA manuals in the MELA website. A telephone answering and advising service is also available.

Installation

  • Demo: A demo version ready to free online use previous registration is offered under the DemoMELA.


References

Cited references

  1. ↑ GADOW, K.v., T. NUUTINEN et S. KELLOMÄKI (2008): Adaptative Design of Forested Landscapes. In GADOW, K.v. et T. PUKKALA (Eds.): Designing Green Landscapes. Springer, New York, pp 3-30.
  2. ↑ EID, T. et K. HOBBELSTAD (2000): AVVIRK-2000: A Large-scale Forestry Scenario Model for Long-term Investment, Income and Harvest Analyses ‘’Scand. J. For. Res.’’ 15: 472-482.

External resources

  • MELA website (in Finnish)
  • REDSVEN, V., H. HIRVELÄ, K. HÄRKÖNEN, O. SALMINEN et M. SIITONEN (2007): ‘’MELA2007 Reference Manual’’. Metsäntutkimuslaitos - The Finnish Forest Research Institute. 642 p.
  • NABUURS G.J. et R. PÄIVINEN (1996): Large Scale Forestry Scenario Models - a compilation and review. European Forest Institute Working Paper No. 10. Joensuu, Finland.
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