• It's a suite of analytical tools designed to inform key forest and range policy questions/decisions facing managers and policy makers. 
• It consists of models and information tools that span from broad- to mid- to fine-scale. 
• The intent is to bring together a diverse array of scientists and resources needed to develop models that can inform the mid-scale and fine-scale decision-making processes,  link together existing models, modify existing models, or build new models.  (INLAS is building off existing analytical tools, such as those developed for modeling landscape change at Oregon State University, including SAFED (731kb) and CLAMS.)
• INLAS is using the upper Grande Ronde watershed as a study area.

More information:

• Descriptions of INLAS Modules
• INLAS Map Images
• Objectives
• Major Components
• Scope
• Timeline
• Potential Products

What are the objectives of INLAS? 

Enhance existing/develop new analytical tools to project: 

• Succession and disturbance dynamics across landscapes 
• Changes in ecological and socioeconomic systems under varying forest policy or management options on all ownerships. 

What are the major components of INLAS? 

Vegetation: Simulations of vegetation dynamics will serve as the core. The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) will be used in the policy level analyses and the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT) 

Forest vegetation and rangeland vegetation will be projected 

• Effects of herbivory on succession and disturbance processes will be modeled. 
• The effects of fire, insects, and diseases along with susceptibility to these disturbances will be modeled. 

Aquatic: Link riparian and instream conditions with upslope dynamics to project aquatic habitat effectiveness through time. 

Terrestrial Species Habitats: Link terrestrial source habitats with vegetation simulations to project source habitat conditions through time. 

Economic Conditions: Link economic goods and services with potential management actions and changes in ecological conditions. Projections of timber production, grazing use, employment, and indexes of special forest products will be made. 

Sociocultural Systems: A spatial representation of sociocultural values will be developed and change modeled into the future. 

What is the scope of INLAS? 

Relying on 30-meter resolution for most of the model components Models will be designed initially for watersheds within the Blue Mountains Large Scale Watershed Restoration Demonstration Area.  Once prototyped and calibrated, the models will be applied to wider areas of the eastside of Oregon. Tools are being designed to apply across the entire eastside of Oregon and Washington eventually. 

What is the timeline? 

Field visit is scheduled for late in June 2000 to the Blue Mountains Demonstration Area. During Fiscal Year 2001 we expect to have models -- the Demonstration Area. In Fiscal Year 2002 we are planning to link the models together and begin to include other areas of eastern Oregon in the analysis. We have not worked out a specific set of commitments or timelines beyond these general guidelines. Proceeding slowly at first, to ensure we understand the types of questions we want the models to address. 

Potential Products. 

• Models will be developed to provide input to the vegetation projection models. 
• Models will be developed to draw from the vegetation projections. 
• The combination of models and analytical tools would project; 
  • Future vegetative conditions; 
  • Future conditions for terrestrial, aquatic, and human habitats; 
  • Risks and opportunities; 
  • Future resource products (such as grazing, timber, and recreation); 
  • Future disturbances (such as fire, insects, and diseases); and, 
  • Relationships to and effects on socioeconomic systems
• INLAS Map Images