Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

FCCS-FVS Integration Work in High Gear

Conceptual design for integration of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) and the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) is complete, and the many connections involved in the integration are in development. For example, programmers are working on a tool to convert field sample vegetation (FSVEG) and forest inventory analysis (FIA) into FVS format. The value added by this integration includes the ability to calculate FCCS fire potentials from stand tree list data. FERA’s Morris Johnson is coordinating this integration project.

3rd Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference Call for Papers

FERA team members Ernesto Alvarado and Morris Johnson are on the planning committee for the 3rd Fire Behavior and Fuel Conference, October 25-26, 2010, to be held in Spokane, Washington.  The call for papers has come out, and submissions are due by March 15, 2010.

Adapting to Climate Change in National Forests: A Workshop for Resource Managers

FERA's David L. Peterson will be leading a 2-day national workshop in April to provide the scientific foundation and tools for preparing adaptation strategies on national forests, communicate scientific knowledge and principles, share recent experiences and approaches, and solicit feedback on needs and priorities to assist future implementation of adaptation strategies. Attendance is limited, and nominations are being solicited from managers in the Forest Service and other agencies. This work is funded by the Forest Service Global Climate Change Research Program.

North American Wildfire Emission Study Featured

Development of the Wildland Fire Emissions Information System (WFEIS), which will calculate fire emissions across North America, was featured in the Fall 2009 issue of The Canadian Smoke Newsletter. Spatial data layers built with FERA’s Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) and Consume model, are integrated into this new system, with Don McKenzie, Roger Ottmar, and Ernesto Alvarado coordinating this part of the project.