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1.
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Decision on extent of a geographic area.
The geographic extent over which the system knowledge will be consistent,
with the understanding that users can make modifications to the system knowledge
through the interface in order to "fine tune" the model behavior to a specific area.
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2.
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Decision of the descriptors for the vegetation.
The choice is a combination of what is available from common inventories, what level
of descriptors is needed to predict probability of disturbance processes, and what level is
needed to make interpretations for management objectives or ecological functioning.
Three lifeforms are used for the vegetation - trees, shrubs, grasses. Each lifeform is
described by a dominant species, size-class / structure, and density measure.
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3.
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Identify what disturbance processes affecting vegetation need to be included.
The model includes processes for which the system generates a
probability for each stand, for each time step. This is usually insects, disease, wildlife
grazing, and wildfire. However other processes such as windthrow and drought that
may not have a probability determined can be "locked in" to explore different
scenarios.
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4.
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Identify what ecological stratification needs to be used.
As we build the system knowledge how does it vary by this stratification? This can be
linked to soil surveys, or some combination of soils, elevation, aspect, etc.
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5.
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Identify specific management treatments / land uses need to be included.
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6.
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Decide the extent to which "regional climate changes" should influence process probability and the change as result of disturbance process.
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7.
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Build "succession" pathways.
Successional pathways or the progression of vegetation through size class, structure, and
density for each dominant species in the absence of significant disturbance are organized
by the ecological stratifications. Any combination of permanent growth plot data, stand
level growth models, and expert opinion can be used to provide the logic.
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8.
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Add the "next state" as a result of each applicable disturbance process to the successional pathways.
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9.
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Develop logic for the probability of each disturbance processes occurring.
This can be developed from any combination of established research or expert opinion.
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10.
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Develop "type of fire" and "fire spread logic".
This can be developed from results of fine scale models on sample stands and / or
expert opinion.
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11.
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Develop regeneration logic for each species.
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12.
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Decide the extent "land units", "aquatic units", and "man-made units" should be represented in SIMPPLLE and how to describe them.
Although these landscape components may not be dynamic as the vegetation
component, they often influence vegetation disturbance processes probabilities and their
impact on the vegetation.
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13.
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Decide on specific "reports" and "interpretations" that can be produced
"automatically" by SIMPPLLE.
If reports or interpretations are not done within SIMPPLLE, users can derive them
through processing future vegetation and disturbance maps in a gis environment or
SIMPPLLE output data summarized in customized Excel spreadsheets.
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14.
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Obtain the initial spatial data sets for a test landscape.
If GIS software other than ERSI is used it will be necessary to develop alternative
interfaces to provide the spatial relationships needed in SIMPPLLE as well capabilities
to map system output.
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15.
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Test the system on the sample landscape. Test against past disturbance events.
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16.
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On site visit with local ecologists to make model simulations and any adjustments in logic to achieve acceptable model behavior.
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17.
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On site training with users focused on creating data sets, making simulations, managing output, processing output with GIS extensions and excel spreadsheets macros, and applying changes to system knowledge through the graphical user interface.
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18.
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Complete documentation of the unique values and system knowledge for the geographic area.
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