Difference between revisions of "DTRAN"

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	== General System description ==		== General System description ==
−	System name:	+	System name: DTRAN
−	Acronym:	+	Acronym: DTRAN
	=== Brief overview ===		=== Brief overview ===
−	Briefly define purpose & capabilities of the system and available components (if any) Should be a 1-2 sentence summary of system	+	'''DTRAN''' is a computer model designed to help analyze the forest management situation in terms of the forest's ability to supply multiple product flows over time to different market locations.
−	[[Category:Help documents]]
−	__TOC__	+	=== System origin ===
−	=== Scope of the system ===	+	'''DTRAN''' was developed in 1981 by Professor H. M. Hoganson,  from the Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota stationed at the North Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota and D. C. Kapple, research assistant in the same University.  The development of this software was supported by University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies and the Minnesota Legislature as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnessota Resources from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund for the project “Simulating Minnessota’s Future Timber Supply”.
−	* 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 ===	+
−	* Who and when was it developed	+	[[Category: Decision support system]]
−	* how was it developed	+
−	* is it a commercial product	+
−	* does it have real-life application cases	+
	=== Support for specific issues  ===		=== 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,...	+	'''DTRAN''' is a computer model designed to help analyze the forest management situation in terms of the forest's ability to supply multiple product flows over time to different market locations. It was designed with the intent of examining differences in timber supply within a large region where specific product mill requirements for specific locations are important. It can be used to help examine a variety of state-wide or region-wide concerns ranging from specific expansion opportunities in a specific location to broad forest-wide policies influencing forest management practices. It is an extension of the '''DUALPLAN''' forest management scheduling model that maintains optimality of the solutions generated yet adds the ability to recognize multiple market locations without the need to specify explicitly each potential shipping option for each harvest option. It is the combinatorial nature of problems with alternative market destinations that makes multiple market locations difficult to address using conventional timber harvest scheduling models based on linear programming, especially when multiple product outputs also need to be considered. Similar to '''DUALPLAN''', '''DTRAN''' utilizes a basic understanding of the problem in its mathematical solution process for an optimal solution. Compared to '''DUALPLAN''', the multiple-market considerations in '''DTRAN''' add significant complications, but the approach can still consider significant detail as the solution process decomposes the problem into parts. Final results include a set of marginal costs or "shadow prices" that can be used in an economic analysis of individual projects to recognize forest-wide objectives or concerns.
	=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===		=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
−	* Silvicultural	+
−	* Certification	+	* Silvicultural
−	* Conservation	+	* Transportation
−	* Restoration	+	* Policy/management alternatives
−	* Transportation	+
−	* Development choices / land use zoning	+
−	* Policy/intervention alternatives	+
−	* Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)	+
	=== Capability to support decision making phases  ===		=== Capability to support decision making phases  ===
−	''(NOTE I do not quite know what to do with this, as I do not understand it myself, although it seems related to system use)''	+
−	* Intelligence (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)	+	* '''Intelligence''' (The current conditions of the forest can be analysed with various management strategies to achieve targets and a spatially configured harvest schedules be prepared.)
−	* Design (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)	+	* '''Design''' (The simulation tool runs the different management possibilities among the restrictions imposed by the input data to understand forest dynamics. The optimization tool projects the current state of a forest into a target forest under various management prescriptions with objectives and constraints.)
−	* Choice (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)	+	* '''Choice''' (Heuristic tools are used in order to ensure the spatial layout of the best management option chosen by the manager. )
−	* Monitor (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)	+	* '''Monitor''' (Not implemented.)
	=== Related systems  ===		=== Related systems  ===
−	Describe (and/or link to) other systems related	+
		+	In the Minessota Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), '''DTRAN''' was used in connection to '''RXWRITE''' and '''GISTRAN'''. '''RXWRITE''' generates a set of management alternatives for each inventory plot and projects growth as in STEMS. '''GISTRAN''' is a simple GIS able to develop spatial data input to display procurement zone maps.
		+
		+	'''RXWRITE''' is a set of programs that can be used to develop prescription options for harvesting and management activities for each management unit.  '''RXWRITE''' simulates clearcutting and three types of thinning: random, from above and from below. A wide range of options concerning thinning intensity, timing and frequency can be specified by the user. Linkage to at least one regeneration option must also be established for clearcutting option.
		+
		+	'''RXWRITE''' is a system of programs that manages forest inventory databases and provides a user-friendly interface for simulating and analyzing alternative management options for forest stands. As a database manager, it allows users to easily browse large forest inventory databases including data on cover types, forests stands, and the tree lists associated with the forest stands. Data can be edited where necessary. The system also allows considerable flexibility in setting up and simulating different stand management options. Users can specify any level of species aggregation and a wide range of products and utilization standards using a user-friendly, menu-driven interface. Similarly, users can specify any range of potencial harvest ages, thinning times, thinning intensities and conversion options. The current values or settings of virtually all system parameters are transparent to the user and they can be edited by the user. Once all system parameters have been set, the system can be used to simulate sets of specified management options for a given stand or group of stands. The output from these simulations can be reviewed or converted into input files to be used by the forest management planning models.
		+
		+	'''GISTRAN'''  is a system of computer programs designed to perform the critical functions of managing, prodessing and presenting the geographical information. GISTRAN uses Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM) databases, random.access binary files, and ASCII text files. It is worth to emphasize, however, that the methods and algorithms developed do not depend upon the data format and the programs can be modified for computer systems where a particular format is unavailable.
		+
		+	Several requirements influenced the selection of the spatial data and the design and development of '''GISTRAN'''.
		+	* Information associating each analysis area with the nearest point in the road network was needed to compute wood transportation costs and to determine the procurement zone in which analysis area is located.
		+	* The shortest or lowest cost route from each node in the road network to each market location was also required to compute transportation costs.
		+	* An ability to display maps showing state and country boundaries, roads and procurement zones are desired
		+	* '''GISTRAN''' was required to be compatible with other components of a forest management modeling system.
	== Data and data models ==		== Data and data models ==
	=== Typical spatial extent of application  ===		=== Typical spatial extent of application  ===
−	Define the scale of use for the application (user defined, regional, multi-owner forest single ownership forest, Multiple scale interaction)	+
		+	The system may be used both for regional analysis. It may address both national and international policy contexts.
		+
	=== Forest data input  ===		=== Forest data input  ===
−	Describe the basic forest input (forest level, stand level, or individual tree level), and appropriate meta-data, such as data provenance (Areal coverage, Sample of plots, stands, Contiguous forest cover). GIS information is to be considered here, namely include cover tyes and type of information (raster or vectorial, necessity of topological information)  If necessary describe surrogate sources of information
−	If necessary describe other types of required data (economic, social)	+	The basic unit of the forest for analysis by '''DTRAN''' is referred to as an analysis area. Each analysis area need not to be considered a homogeneous unit, but management alternatives or management prescriptions must refer the entire analysis area. In the solution, '''DTRAN''' cannot split acres of any analysis area between prescriptions; all acres are assigned to one prescription.  In GEIS study over 10000 analysis units were recognized.
		+
		+	'''Basic inputs'''
		+
		+	* Forest Inventory
		+	* Road network
		+	* Management unit map
		+
	=== Type of information input from user (via GUI) ===		=== Type of information input from user (via GUI) ===
−	Describe what is the information that the user directly inputs in the system if any): expert knowledge, opinion, goals and production objectives, preferences, stand/site information....
−	== Models ==	+
		+	=== Models ===
	=== Forest models ===		=== Forest models ===
−	Growth, Yield, Carbon, Wood quality, biodiversity and habitat suitability, environmental and external effects (fire, storms, pests, diseases, climate change, etc)	+	The stand and tree evolution and modeling system ('''STEMS''') developed by USDA Forest Service is used by RxWRITE to model the tree growth.
		+
	=== Social models  ===		=== Social models  ===
−	historical and cultural values of sites, values due to peace and quiet, esthetic values, values due to recreational activities, ethical values): E. g. Recreation, Health, Game	+	-Not available yet
Line 72:		Line 83:
	=== Definition of management interventions ===		=== Definition of management interventions ===
−	Define what is available for the manager to intervene in the forest: time of harvest, plantations, thinnings, reconversions...	+
−	Existence of prescription writer, simple enumeration of all possibilities, scenario simulation , etc.	+	* Management alternatives for each analysis area;
		+	* Consumption levels for each market, product and time period;
		+	* Species requirements for each market and relative value differences between species and size classes at each market;
		+	* Constraint levels on other inputs/outputs;
		+	* Transportation network and associated shipping costs;
		+	* Location information for each analysis area;
		+	* Non-market value estimates for each analysis area or alternative.
		+
	=== Typical temporal scale of application ===		=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
−	Define the temporal scale of the application: E.g., operational and immediate level, Tactical planning (short term) and strategic level.	+
		+	Usually periods of up 50 years are considered, with period lengths of 5 years, but there is no limit on the time horizon.
	=== Types of decisions supported  ===		=== Types of decisions supported  ===
−	*Management level	+	* Management level
−	**strategic decisions	+	** Strategic decisions
−	**administrative decisions	+	** Operating control decisions
−	**operating control decisions	+	* Management function
−	* 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 ===		=== Decision-making processes and models ===
−	*Logic modeling	+
−	*Operations research modeling	+	'''DTRAN''' optimizes the problem given the user specified constrains using Linear Programming.
−	**Direct approaches	+	'''DTRAN''' can use either a Model I or Model II (after Johnson and Scheurman) type of formulation with the Model II formulation preferable for most problems as it can reduce the number of alternative management prescription significantly. A Model II formulation breaks the decision the decision process for an individual stand into parts by considering each rotation separately
−	**Heuristic manipulation of simulation models	+
−	*Business modeling	+
−	*Simulation (with and without stochasticity)	+
−	*Multiple criteria/ranking	+
−	*Other	+
	== Output ==		== Output ==
Line 108:		Line 114:
	=== Types of  outputs ===		=== Types of  outputs ===
−	Types of outputs produced (tables, maps, 3-D visualizations, pre-programmed summaries, etc)	+	* Output variables
−	=== Spatial analysis capabilities  ===	+	* Marginal cost of production estimation (shadow prices) for each product , market and time period
−	* integrated capabilities	+	* Shadow prices for other resources constraints
−	* facilitates links to GIS (wizards, etc.)	+	* Management schedule  for each analysis area
−	* provides standard data import/export formats	+	* Forest-wide summary of resource flows (inputs and outputs)
−	* allows spatial analysis (e.g. topology overlays (e.g. multi layering of different maps, selection of objects based on selection criteria, aggregation by attributes (e.g. areas of similar characteristics), Linking by logical means, Statistics by area, analysis with digital terrain model)	+	* Maps of procurement zones for each market, product and period combination.
	=== Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues  ===		=== 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	+
		+	'''DTRAN''' specifically has the ability to deal with each mill’s processing capacity and capacity changes in the future. These can be provided by the user as a scenario for expansion or reduction of the mill’s capacity or quality demand. DTRAN doesn’t have any component that takes into account environmental effects of wood processing, however forest wide constraints on non-timber resources can be specified.
		+
	== System ==		== System ==
	=== System requirements  ===		=== System requirements  ===
−	* Operating Systems: (Windows, Macintosh, Linux/UNIX, Web-based, Others)	+
−	* Other software needed (GIS, MIP packages, etc...)	+	* IBM compatible 386 or larger
−	* Development status	+
	=== Architecture and major DSS components ===		=== Architecture and major DSS components ===
−	Describe the basic architecture of the system in software and hardware. Desktop client-server, web based, as well as the  integration with available systems. Basic data flow, focusing on retrieval of required input and propagation and implementations of decisions. Mention its modular and scalability capabilities.	+
		+	'''DTRAN''' is a desktop application with a modular structure. It was developed with software ?????.
	=== Usage ===		=== Usage ===
−	Describe the level of use: Research level use, Industry use, Government use
	=== Computational limitations ===		=== Computational limitations ===
−	Describe the system limitations: e.g. number of management units, number of vehicles, time horizon	+
		+	Run time is impacted mostly by the number of management units and constraints defined by the user.
	=== User interface ===		=== User interface ===
−	Describe the quality of user interface and the Prerequisite knowledge for using the system	+
		+	'''DTRAN''' has a standard Windows GUI.  Thoughtful use of the system requires some good forest management planning and agricultural economics background.
	=== Documentation and support ===		=== Documentation and support ===
−	Describe the connection to Help-system and possibilities for assistance, as well as the required training and user support levels	+
		+	The graphical user interface provides access to the '''DTRAN''' users' manual:
		+	Hoganson, H. M., Kapple, D. C., 1991, DTRAN Version 1.0 , A Multi-Market Timber Supply Model, User’s Guide, Staff  Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
		+
	=== Installation ===		=== Installation ===
−	* Prerequisite knowledge: Level of effort to become functional	+
−	* Cost: (purchase price, development costs, demonstrated return on investment, cost of use, training costs, licence and maintenance costs)	+
−	* Demo: allows the download/utilization of a trial version. If yes, where is it available and what are the trial conditions.	+
	==References==		==References==
Line 152:		Line 163:
	===External resources===		===External resources===
		+
		+	Hoganson, H. M., Kapple, D. C., 1991, DTRAN Version 1.0 , A Multi-Market Timber Supply Model, User’s Guide, Staff  Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
		+
		+	McDill, M., Rose, D., 1994, RXWrite. A Forest Management Prescription Writer, User’s Guide, Staff  Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
		+
		+	Kapple, D. C., Hoganson, H. M., 1991, GISTRAN Version 1.0 , A Geographic Information System for Modelling Forest Products Transportation, User’s Guide, Staff  Paper Series N. 83, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota

---

Latest revision as of 06:54, 14 October 2012

General System description

System name: DTRAN

Acronym: DTRAN

Brief overview

DTRAN is a computer model designed to help analyze the forest management situation in terms of the forest's ability to supply multiple product flows over time to different market locations.

System origin

DTRAN was developed in 1981 by Professor H. M. Hoganson, from the Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota stationed at the North Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota and D. C. Kapple, research assistant in the same University. The development of this software was supported by University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies and the Minnesota Legislature as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnessota Resources from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund for the project “Simulating Minnessota’s Future Timber Supply”.

Support for specific issues

DTRAN is a computer model designed to help analyze the forest management situation in terms of the forest's ability to supply multiple product flows over time to different market locations. It was designed with the intent of examining differences in timber supply within a large region where specific product mill requirements for specific locations are important. It can be used to help examine a variety of state-wide or region-wide concerns ranging from specific expansion opportunities in a specific location to broad forest-wide policies influencing forest management practices. It is an extension of the DUALPLAN forest management scheduling model that maintains optimality of the solutions generated yet adds the ability to recognize multiple market locations without the need to specify explicitly each potential shipping option for each harvest option. It is the combinatorial nature of problems with alternative market destinations that makes multiple market locations difficult to address using conventional timber harvest scheduling models based on linear programming, especially when multiple product outputs also need to be considered. Similar to DUALPLAN, DTRAN utilizes a basic understanding of the problem in its mathematical solution process for an optimal solution. Compared to DUALPLAN, the multiple-market considerations in DTRAN add significant complications, but the approach can still consider significant detail as the solution process decomposes the problem into parts. Final results include a set of marginal costs or "shadow prices" that can be used in an economic analysis of individual projects to recognize forest-wide objectives or concerns.

Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type

• Silvicultural
• Transportation
• Policy/management alternatives

Capability to support decision making phases

• Intelligence (The current conditions of the forest can be analysed with various management strategies to achieve targets and a spatially configured harvest schedules be prepared.)
• Design (The simulation tool runs the different management possibilities among the restrictions imposed by the input data to understand forest dynamics. The optimization tool projects the current state of a forest into a target forest under various management prescriptions with objectives and constraints.)
• Choice (Heuristic tools are used in order to ensure the spatial layout of the best management option chosen by the manager. )
• Monitor (Not implemented.)

Related systems

In the Minessota Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), DTRAN was used in connection to RXWRITE and GISTRAN. RXWRITE generates a set of management alternatives for each inventory plot and projects growth as in STEMS. GISTRAN is a simple GIS able to develop spatial data input to display procurement zone maps.

RXWRITE is a set of programs that can be used to develop prescription options for harvesting and management activities for each management unit. RXWRITE simulates clearcutting and three types of thinning: random, from above and from below. A wide range of options concerning thinning intensity, timing and frequency can be specified by the user. Linkage to at least one regeneration option must also be established for clearcutting option.

RXWRITE is a system of programs that manages forest inventory databases and provides a user-friendly interface for simulating and analyzing alternative management options for forest stands. As a database manager, it allows users to easily browse large forest inventory databases including data on cover types, forests stands, and the tree lists associated with the forest stands. Data can be edited where necessary. The system also allows considerable flexibility in setting up and simulating different stand management options. Users can specify any level of species aggregation and a wide range of products and utilization standards using a user-friendly, menu-driven interface. Similarly, users can specify any range of potencial harvest ages, thinning times, thinning intensities and conversion options. The current values or settings of virtually all system parameters are transparent to the user and they can be edited by the user. Once all system parameters have been set, the system can be used to simulate sets of specified management options for a given stand or group of stands. The output from these simulations can be reviewed or converted into input files to be used by the forest management planning models.

GISTRAN is a system of computer programs designed to perform the critical functions of managing, prodessing and presenting the geographical information. GISTRAN uses Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM) databases, random.access binary files, and ASCII text files. It is worth to emphasize, however, that the methods and algorithms developed do not depend upon the data format and the programs can be modified for computer systems where a particular format is unavailable.

Several requirements influenced the selection of the spatial data and the design and development of GISTRAN.

• Information associating each analysis area with the nearest point in the road network was needed to compute wood transportation costs and to determine the procurement zone in which analysis area is located.
• The shortest or lowest cost route from each node in the road network to each market location was also required to compute transportation costs.
• An ability to display maps showing state and country boundaries, roads and procurement zones are desired
• GISTRAN was required to be compatible with other components of a forest management modeling system.

Data and data models

Typical spatial extent of application

The system may be used both for regional analysis. It may address both national and international policy contexts.

Forest data input

The basic unit of the forest for analysis by DTRAN is referred to as an analysis area. Each analysis area need not to be considered a homogeneous unit, but management alternatives or management prescriptions must refer the entire analysis area. In the solution, DTRAN cannot split acres of any analysis area between prescriptions; all acres are assigned to one prescription. In GEIS study over 10000 analysis units were recognized.

Basic inputs

* Forest Inventory * Road network * Management unit map

Type of information input from user (via GUI)

Models

Forest models

The stand and tree evolution and modeling system (STEMS) developed by USDA Forest Service is used by RxWRITE to model the tree growth.

Social models

-Not available yet

Decision Support

Definition of management interventions

* Management alternatives for each analysis area;
* Consumption levels for each market, product and time period;
* Species requirements for each market and relative value differences between species and size classes at each market;
* Constraint levels on other inputs/outputs;
* Transportation network and associated shipping costs;
* Location information for each analysis area;
* Non-market value estimates for each analysis area or alternative.

Typical temporal scale of application

Usually periods of up 50 years are considered, with period lengths of 5 years, but there is no limit on the time horizon.

Types of decisions supported

• Management level
  • Strategic decisions
  • Operating control decisions
• Management function

Decision-making processes and models

DTRAN optimizes the problem given the user specified constrains using Linear Programming. DTRAN can use either a Model I or Model II (after Johnson and Scheurman) type of formulation with the Model II formulation preferable for most problems as it can reduce the number of alternative management prescription significantly. A Model II formulation breaks the decision the decision process for an individual stand into parts by considering each rotation separately

Output

Types of outputs

• Output variables

     * Marginal cost of production estimation (shadow prices) for each product , market and time period
     * Shadow prices for other resources constraints
     * Management schedule  for each analysis area
     * Forest-wide summary of resource flows (inputs and outputs)
     * Maps of procurement zones for each market, product and period combination.

Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues

DTRAN specifically has the ability to deal with each mill’s processing capacity and capacity changes in the future. These can be provided by the user as a scenario for expansion or reduction of the mill’s capacity or quality demand. DTRAN doesn’t have any component that takes into account environmental effects of wood processing, however forest wide constraints on non-timber resources can be specified.

System

System requirements

• IBM compatible 386 or larger

Architecture and major DSS components

DTRAN is a desktop application with a modular structure. It was developed with software ?????.

Usage

Computational limitations

Run time is impacted mostly by the number of management units and constraints defined by the user.

User interface

DTRAN has a standard Windows GUI. Thoughtful use of the system requires some good forest management planning and agricultural economics background.

Documentation and support

The graphical user interface provides access to the DTRAN users' manual: Hoganson, H. M., Kapple, D. C., 1991, DTRAN Version 1.0 , A Multi-Market Timber Supply Model, User’s Guide, Staff Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota

Installation

References

Cited references

External resources

Hoganson, H. M., Kapple, D. C., 1991, DTRAN Version 1.0 , A Multi-Market Timber Supply Model, User’s Guide, Staff Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota

McDill, M., Rose, D., 1994, RXWrite. A Forest Management Prescription Writer, User’s Guide, Staff Paper Series N. 82, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota

Kapple, D. C., Hoganson, H. M., 1991, GISTRAN Version 1.0 , A Geographic Information System for Modelling Forest Products Transportation, User’s Guide, Staff Paper Series N. 83, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota