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Details

05-4-3-10
2005
07/25/2005
09/30/2008
FuelCalc: A Tool for Calculating Wildland Fuel Quantities and Qualities and Supporting Fuel Management Decisions
A need exists for a simple computer program to determine surface and canopy fuel quantities (load, bulk density, depth) and qualities (fire behavior fuel model, fire-carrying fuel type) from a variety of fuel inventory data sources. In addition, fuel managers need help analyzing the potential effects of silvicultural treatments on surface and canopy fuels. Models of fire behavior and effects already exist, but the means to create inputs to those models is still lacking. Programs already exist to monitor fuel treatments over time, but not to simulate the potential effects of fuel treatment before implementation, so that managers can choose the best available treatment option. We propose to develop FuelCalc to carry out these calculations, incorporating both widely accepted methods for quantifying surface fuels and newly completed research funded by the JFSP for quantifying canopy fuels. FuelCalc supports fuel treatment decisions by simulating effects of a wide range of silvicultural treatments on surface and canopy fuels, and provides linkages to stand visualization, fire behavior and fire effects programs that rely on estimates of fuel characteristics. FuelCalc will deliver the best available fuel science information and research results in order to support fire science applications.
Elizabeth D. Reinhardt
Forest Service
RMRS-Fire Sciences Lab-Missoula

Other Project Collaborators

Other Project Collaborators

Type

Name

Agency/Organization

Branch or Dept

Co-Principal Investigator

Caroline L. Noble

NPS-National Park Service

Southeast Region

Co-Principal Investigator

Duncan C. Lutes

Forest Service

RMRS-Systems of Environmental Management

Co-Principal Investigator

Joe H. Scott

Pyrologix

Federal Cooperator

Jan W. Van Wagtendonk

USGS-Geological Survey

WERC-Yosemite Field Station

Project Locations

Project Locations

Fire Science Exchange Network

National


Level

State

Agency

Unit

Final Report

Project Deliverables

Title
Fuel Calc Reference GuideView
Fuels Management-How to Measure SuccessView
View

Supporting Documents

Introducing FuelCalc: A New Tool that Helps Turn Static Inventory Data into Actionable InformationView