Difference between revisions of "ForestGALES"

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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 ===
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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.
  
For more information see [http://www.eforestry.gov.uk/forestdss Forest Research Decision Support Portal] (note registration required)
+
[[Category:GB Forestry DSS]]
 
+
[[Category:Wind hazard]]
 
+
[[Category:Help documents]]
+
  
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
  
 
=== Scope of the system ===
 
=== Scope of the system ===
* tool encourages decision maker to discover new problems or opportunities by exposing to new information or results
+
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.
* tool helps decision makers in recognizing upcoming problems for which solutions have been developed previously
+
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.
* 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 ===
 
=== 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  ===
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,...
+
[[:Category:Wind hazard |Wind hazard ]]
  
 
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
 
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
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* Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)
 
* Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)
  
=== Capability to support decision making phases   ===  
+
=== Capability to support decision making phases ===  
* Intelligence (gives user detailed site analysis - climate and soil parameters)
+
* Intelligence  
* Design (provides site analysis in context of many themes)
+
:gives user detailed site analysis (climate and soil parameters).
* Choice (allows user to vary species choice, management options)
+
* Design
* Monitor (highlights risks which in theory could encourage monitoring)
+
: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  ===
Describe (and/or link to) other systems related
+
*[[Conifer Timber Quality Model]]
*Conifer Timber Quality Model
+
*[[ESC]]
*ESC
+
*[[EMIS]]
*EMIS
+
  
  
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=== 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  ===
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=== 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 ==
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Growth, wind hazard.
 
Growth, wind hazard.
  
=== Social models  ===
 
N/a
 
  
 
== Decision Support ==
 
== Decision Support ==
  
 
=== Definition of management interventions ===
 
=== Definition of management interventions ===
Thinning, no thinning, spacing, stocking density, creation of brown edge (ie removing windfirm edge and creating gap).  
+
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.
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* 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 ===
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* 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 steup fairly simple via installer.
+
* Windows setup fairly simple via installer.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
===Cited references===
 
<references/>
 
  
 
===External resources===
 
===External resources===
 +
[http://www.eforestry.gov.uk/forestdss Forest Research Decision Support Portal] (note registration required)

Revision as of 15:02, 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.

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

Wind hazard

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)