Difference between revisions of "EMIS"
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=== Brief overview === | === Brief overview === | ||
The aim of EMIS was integrate knowledge of site and plant characteristics to provide a whole lifecycle view of scenario options. Fundamentally based on [[GB_Forestry_DSS/ESC | ESC]], EMIS extends site selection capabilities by integrating wind hazard, timber quality and other models to provide a broader picture of the establishment opportunities on conifer restock sites. | The aim of EMIS was integrate knowledge of site and plant characteristics to provide a whole lifecycle view of scenario options. Fundamentally based on [[GB_Forestry_DSS/ESC | ESC]], EMIS extends site selection capabilities by integrating wind hazard, timber quality and other models to provide a broader picture of the establishment opportunities on conifer restock sites. | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Decision_Support_Systems|EMIS]] | |
| − | [[Category:GB Forestry DSS |EMIS]] | + | [[Category:GB Forestry DSS|EMIS]] |
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* Some small scale use in public and private sector. | * Some small scale use in public and private sector. | ||
| − | [[Category:Web_applications |EMIS]] | + | [[Category:Web_applications|EMIS]] |
=== Support for specific issues === | === Support for specific issues === | ||
Revision as of 13:10, 5 September 2009
General System description
System name: Establishment Management Information System
Acronym: EMIS
Brief overview
The aim of EMIS was integrate knowledge of site and plant characteristics to provide a whole lifecycle view of scenario options. Fundamentally based on ESC, EMIS extends site selection capabilities by integrating wind hazard, timber quality and other models to provide a broader picture of the establishment opportunities on conifer restock sites.
Contents
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
- Developed by Mike Perks, Alan Harrison and Stephen Bathgate. Being an integration product its development would not have been possible without fundamental building blocks such as ESC, Forest Gales and many other Forest Research models.
- Currently free to use at stand scale via web.
- Some small scale use in public and private sector.
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
- ESC
- Forest Gales
- Hylobius Management Support System
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, the presence of heather, aspect and slope.
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
Growth, wind hazard, timber quality, planting windows, fertiliser, species suitability (ESC), cultivation, risk and brash/stump models.
Social models
N/a
Decision Support
Definition of management interventions
Timing of planting, fertilisation, rotations, species choice.
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 30-80+ years.
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 and EMIS libraries assemble these in order to answer user questions. These can be called independently if necessary.
Highly modular, components based on themes eg species suitability, wind hazard, etc.
Some simple web service interfaces developed using document literal style WSDL/SOAP and REST.
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
Typical processing time for Scottish Forest District 6-8 hours (vector-raster intersection step takes 5-6 hours, models execute over 4000 components in about 1 hour, but this varies according to species etc). Large scale spatial intersections sometimes exhaust machine memory with ArcGIS.
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
None 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.
References
Cited references
External resources
Forest Research Decision Support Portal (note registration required)
