Difference between revisions of "ForestGALES"
m (moved Forestgales to GB Forestry DSS/Forest Gales: improving organization) |
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== General System description == | == General System description == | ||
| − | System name: Forest Gales Acronym: FG | + | System name: Forest Gales |
| + | |||
| + | Acronym: FG | ||
=== Brief overview === | === Brief overview === | ||
| Line 8: | Line 10: | ||
Recently adapted as part of Stormrisk project to allow model to run in partner countries. | Recently adapted as part of Stormrisk project to allow model to run in partner countries. | ||
| − | + | [[Category:GB Forestry DSS]] | |
| − | + | [[Category:Wind hazard]] | |
| − | + | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | |
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
=== Scope of the system === | === Scope of the system === | ||
| − | + | This tool evaluates the wind hazard of a conifer stand plantation, based on some of the stand feature, like soil, cultivation, drainage, location, or metric measures (top height, average dbh) of the existing species. It provides information as return period, risk status and critical wind speed for both overturn and windsnap risk. | |
| − | + | It allows to quantify the wind hazard existing in actual stands or, with the help of growth prediction models or yield tables, the future risk of wind damage assumed by current decisions on the establishment of new plantations, thinnings scheduling or rotation periods. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
=== System origin === | === System origin === | ||
* Developed by Barry Gardiner, Juan Suarez, Bruce Nicoll, Sophie Hale and others assisting the Stability team. | * Developed by Barry Gardiner, Juan Suarez, Bruce Nicoll, Sophie Hale and others assisting the Stability team. | ||
| − | * Currently free to use at stand scale via web. | + | * Currently free to use at stand scale via web. |
* Used in research, education, public and private sector forestry. | * Used in research, education, public and private sector forestry. | ||
=== Support for specific issues === | === Support for specific issues === | ||
| − | + | [[:Category:Wind hazard |Wind hazard ]] | |
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type === | === Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type === | ||
| Line 38: | Line 36: | ||
* Sustainability impact assessment (SIA) | * Sustainability impact assessment (SIA) | ||
| − | === Capability to support decision making phases | + | === Capability to support decision making phases === |
| − | * Intelligence | + | * Intelligence |
| − | * Design | + | :gives user detailed site analysis (climate and soil parameters). |
| − | * Choice | + | * Design |
| − | * Monitor | + | :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 === | === Related systems === | ||
| − | + | *[[Conifer Timber Quality Model]] | |
| − | *Conifer Timber Quality Model | + | *[[ESC]] |
| − | *ESC | + | *[[EMIS]] |
| − | *EMIS | + | |
| Line 55: | Line 56: | ||
=== Typical spatial extent of application === | === Typical spatial extent of application === | ||
Stand based tool operates at stand scale upto 10 hectares, batch GIS tool has generated regional and national scenarios. | Stand based tool operates at stand scale upto 10 hectares, batch GIS tool has generated regional and national scenarios. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category: Stand level]] | ||
=== Forest data input === | === Forest data input === | ||
| Line 60: | Line 63: | ||
=== Type of information input from user (via GUI) === | === Type of information input from user (via GUI) === | ||
| − | As an alternative to location user can choose a windiness (dams) score or calculate this factor from site factors (aspect etc) | + | As an alternative to location user can choose a windiness (dams) score or calculate this factor from site factors (aspect, etc.) |
User selects tree species, soil, management scenario for detailed analysis from an intermediate screen. | User selects tree species, soil, management scenario for detailed analysis from an intermediate screen. | ||
| + | |||
== Models == | == Models == | ||
| Line 70: | Line 74: | ||
Growth, wind hazard. | Growth, wind hazard. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
== Decision Support == | == Decision Support == | ||
=== Definition of management interventions === | === Definition of management interventions === | ||
| − | Thinning, no thinning, spacing, stocking density, creation of brown edge ( | + | Thinning, no thinning, spacing, stocking density, creation of brown edge (i.e. removing windfirm edge and creating gap). |
Prescription enumerating all selected possibilities at stand level, coarser information in GIS layers. | Prescription enumerating all selected possibilities at stand level, coarser information in GIS layers. | ||
| Line 127: | Line 129: | ||
* Java library deployed on Linux and Windows. UI available at stand level via web, or batch system via command line. | * Java library deployed on Linux and Windows. UI available at stand level via web, or batch system via command line. | ||
* Delphi version requires Windows operating system. | * Delphi version requires Windows operating system. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:multi-platform applications]] | ||
=== Architecture and major DSS components === | === Architecture and major DSS components === | ||
| Line 164: | Line 168: | ||
* Prerequisite knowledge: Requires web browser. Server installation requires specialised skills and tools. Batch mode requires some configuration on host machine. | * Prerequisite knowledge: Requires web browser. Server installation requires specialised skills and tools. Batch mode requires some configuration on host machine. | ||
| − | * Windows | + | * Windows setup fairly simple via installer. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
===External resources=== | ===External resources=== | ||
| + | [http://www.eforestry.gov.uk/forestdss Forest Research Decision Support Portal] (note registration required) | ||
Revision as of 14:02, 4 September 2009
General System description
System name: Forest Gales
Acronym: FG
Brief overview
Forest Gales allows the analysis of wind climate effects on the stability of a conifer forest. The tool can be used to assess risk over time via predicted growth from yield tables or alternatively current risk from mensuration data (top height and dbh).
Recently adapted as part of Stormrisk project to allow model to run in partner countries.
Contents
Scope of the system
This tool evaluates the wind hazard of a conifer stand plantation, based on some of the stand feature, like soil, cultivation, drainage, location, or metric measures (top height, average dbh) of the existing species. It provides information as return period, risk status and critical wind speed for both overturn and windsnap risk. It allows to quantify the wind hazard existing in actual stands or, with the help of growth prediction models or yield tables, the future risk of wind damage assumed by current decisions on the establishment of new plantations, thinnings scheduling or rotation periods.
System origin
- Developed by Barry Gardiner, Juan Suarez, Bruce Nicoll, Sophie Hale and others assisting the Stability team.
- Currently free to use at stand scale via web.
- Used in research, education, public and private sector forestry.
Support for specific issues
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
Data and data models
Typical spatial extent of application
Stand based tool operates at stand scale upto 10 hectares, batch GIS tool has generated regional and national scenarios.
Forest data input
Location via OS GB six figure grid reference, eg NT090950. This allows site windiness to be determined from a digital map.
Type of information input from user (via GUI)
As an alternative to location user can choose a windiness (dams) score or calculate this factor from site factors (aspect, etc.)
User selects tree species, soil, management scenario for detailed analysis from an intermediate screen.
Models
Forest models
Growth, wind hazard.
Decision Support
Definition of management interventions
Thinning, no thinning, spacing, stocking density, creation of brown edge (i.e. removing windfirm edge and creating gap).
Prescription enumerating all selected possibilities at stand level, coarser information in GIS layers.
Typical temporal scale of application
Allows full lifecycle analysis of a rotation 15-80+ years depending upon species.
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, thematic maps can be generated via a batch tool for visualisation in GIS.
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 (excel)
- allows spatial analysis, batch tool generates thematic layers by exporting data to GIS.
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.
- Delphi version requires Windows operating system.
Architecture and major DSS components
3 tier architecture ( UI, Models, Data)
Web based UI using JSP, HTML, CSS
Desktop UI in Delphi.
Also desktop batch tool for GIS processing using Java.
Models are implemented in java and delphi. Available as dll.
Some simple web service interfaces developed for integration with other systems.
Basic dataflow is location accesses site climate data, this and other user input data (tree species/management/soil) are then processed by the various models to generate outputs.
Usage
Used in education, public and private sector forestry and research.
Adapted for use in many other countries.
Computational limitations
Runtime can be an issue for landscape scale analysis over time, but still not more than a few hours.
User interface
Web UI
Delphi desktop UI
For GIS offline service to process data and return a spatial layer with wind risk variables attached. Processing via command line UI. Visualisation any GIS tool.
Documentation and support
Manual available for desktop version. Support available via email. No training courses in recent times but these were run in the past.
Installation
- Prerequisite knowledge: Requires web browser. Server installation requires specialised skills and tools. Batch mode requires some configuration on host machine.
- Windows setup fairly simple via installer.
References
External resources
Forest Research Decision Support Portal (note registration required)
