# Presentation: 087346

## The Interagency Fire Community: Available Tools, Data, and Collaborative Opportunities

**Nate Benson**
**National Park Service**
**Fire Ecology Program Lead**

**Notes:**
Collaborative Opportunities Pereet 

## Annual Number of Wildfire Acres Nationally

**Annual Number of Wildfire Acres Nationally**

## Slide 3

## Slide 4

## NPS Fire Management Accomplishments

**Acres**

**NPS Fire Management Accomplishments**

## Slide 6

## NPS- USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project

**ETM+  09/09/2001**

**dNBR:  09/12/1999 - 09/09/2001**

**Initial Assessment 2001 Moose Burn**

**Preliminary Severity Levels**

***NPS- USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project***

***http://burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov***

## NPS/USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project

**NPS and USGS BRD Research and **
**Development, Coordination, Oversight - **
**2-3 Individuals**

**USGS EROS Satellite Remote Sensing **
**Production Facility with National **
**Capability - 2-5 Individuals**

**            ****NPS Field Personnel Distributed **
**            ****throughout the Nation – Fire Monitors,**
**            ****Fire Ecologists, Fire GIS Specialists.**

**NPS/USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project**
**   ****3-Part Working Group **

## Pre Fire

**Pre Fire**

**Landsat False Color Composites (Band 7-4-3 RGB)**

**TM  07/10/1999**

**ETM  06/25/2000**

**Post Fire**

**1999 Anaconda Burn**

**Notes:**
Early work focused on these questions, finding optimal index and one that’s comparable.

## “Normalized Burn Ratio”:     NBR = (R4 - R7) / (R4 + R7)    Range:  -1.0 to +1.0

**“****Normalized Burn Ratio”:     NBR = (*****R*****4**** - *****R*****7****) / (*****R*****4**** + *****R*****7****)    Range:  -1.0 to +1.0**

**1999 Anaconda Burn**

**“****Differenced or Delta NBR”:    dNBR = NBR****pre**** – NBR****post        ****Range:  -2.0 to +2.0**

**Pre-Fire NBR**
**07/10/99**

**Post-Fire NBR**
**06/25/00**

**dNBR**
**07/10/99 - 06/25/00**

**Notes:**
We would suggest, then, the optimal index would be what we're calling the NBR, where we take the two bands that seemed to respond most to burning, but in opposite ways, R4 and R7.  Their difference seems to provide most "leverage".  By dividing by their sum we accomplish and additional normalization of the data, which compensates for their combined brightness, while enhancing the spectral differences between the bands.  Helps remove topographic and solar effects to make data more comparable spatially and temporally, within or between scenes.....  This serves to further equalize different scenes and minimize effects of topography....  Very similar to the construct of NDVI ...
The theoretical range is -1 to +1 (-1000 to +1000).  In these scenes, values near zero are represented by gray levers in clouds and rock, so majority of the area which is vegetated is very bright - highly positive.  The burn is dark, highly negative.  Between the two, older '94 burn looks quite similar.

To isolate the burn and discriminate levels of change within the burn, delta NBR is calculated ... provides scale of absolute change....
It has a theoretical range of -2 to +2 (-2K to +2K), but in real landscapes more like +-1400.
Medium gray outside burn, representing no change, typically in range of +-0.1 (+-100), so in-burn starts around 100 up to natural limits around +1300.
It is possible to have negative delta NBR, and that can occur when an area actually has enhanced productivity after fire.  Can occur the year after burning or in subsequent years as the area recovers vegetatively.  An Example of that in this view is....
With the differenced NBR, the hypothesis is that the range of brightness corresponds with the range in severity, as we define it in terms of initial environ change caused by fire.
It's the scale of change in the radiometric index, but we believe it can be correlated with a scale of BS as measured on the ground.

## Burn Perimeter Mapped

***Burn Perimeter Mapped***

***Burn Data Extracted by Perimeter***

***Burn Severity Levels or Classes***

**dNBR**
**07/10/99 - 06/25/00**

## dNBR

**dNBR**

**1080**

**960**

**840**

**720**

**600**

**480**

**360**

**240**

**120**

**0**

**-120**

**-240**

**6**

**5**

**4**

**3**

**2**

**1**

**0**

**12.1**

**15.7**

** ****19.0**

**32.2**

** ****20.1**

**0.8**

**0.1**

**7**

**8**

**24**

**20**

**16**

**12**

**8**

**4**

**0**

**28**

**32**

**Percent Increments of 30**

**Percent Severity Levels**

**High**

**Moderate-High**

**Moderate-Low**

**Low**

**Unburned/**
**Very Low**

**Low**

**High**

_**Enhanced:**_

***1999 Anaconda Burn***
***Within-Burn Frequency Distribution of Severity***

## Glacier National Park Extended Assessment 1994 Fires.

**Glacier National Park Extended Assessment 1994 Fires.**

** ****Starvation Burn**

** ****Adair Complex**

** ****dNBR:  May 1994 – May 1995 **

** ****Burn Severity Levels **

_***Severity Level ***_

**Notes:**
Both data types can be brought into the GIS for applications.  Extended Assessment for 1994 fires in Glacier National Park covered a variety of habitats and topography.  A stratification of the Delta NBR (left) provided a scale for levels of severity (right).  This develops quantitative data on spatial variation in fire effects, as the two burns are directly compared.  By stratification, one can simplify the continuous information contained in the Delta NBR, so that patch size and distribution may be easier to interpret.  The “enhanced” levels are where fire actually increased productivity the next growing season, as visible in the lower left portion of Adair Complex, where Delta NBR is strongly negative (dark).  Such responses are typical in herbaceous communities.

## NPS Burn Mapping 2004

- Fifty Fires Processed January 2004 – November 2004
- 12 Initial Assessments  and 38 Extended Assessment
-  47 for NPS ,  2 for FWS, 1 State of Alaska
- 	Size: 	1 < 100 acres
- 		13 > 100 and < 500
- 		5 > 500 and < 1000
- 		8 > 1000 and < 2000
- 		10 > 2000 and < 5000
- 		4 > 5000 and < 10000
- 		8 > 10000 and < 50000
- 		1 > 50000 (118330 ac AK)

## NPS Fire Atlases

**Yukon Charlie:  20 scenes ordered and processed by NLAPS**
**	****Scenes now in DDP for further processing (dNBR)**
**Yosemite: 42 scenes ordered and processed by NLAPS**
**	****Scenes; Atlas completed**
**Yellowstone/Grand Teton/Bridger Teton: 45 scenes ordered **
**	****and processed by NLAPS; atlas completed**
**Sequoia Kings: 31 scenes ordered and processed by NLAPS; ****	****atlas completed**
**Grand Canyon: 23 Scenes ordered and processed by NLAPS**
**	****Scenes sent to DDP for further processing**
**Glacier: Over 20 Scenes purchased; atlas completed**

## Fires from 1984 to 2003

**Fires from 1984 to 2003**

***Flathead National Forest –***
***Glacier National Park, USA***
***British Columbia – Alberta, Canada***

## Activities That Must Incorporate 

**Fire Atlas – past, present & future burns; **
**Account for results and acres treated; * **
**Update fuel, vegetation and FRCC data; ***
**Education and Visualization;**
**Archaeological Survey; **
**T&E Species conservation;**

**Evaluate risks **_**before**_** fire;  ***
**Prescription Planning –  ***
**       ****Restore Natural Fire Regimes;**
**       ****Reduce Fuel; Map Natural fire breaks,**
**       ****Trigger points & Fire Managmt. Zones**
**Assess hazards and ecology **_**after**_** fire;**
**        ****Restore & protect; mitigate damage; * **
**Manage People; Air Quality; Litigation; **
**Monitoring:  What are the trends of severely burned acreages by vegetation type on federal lands?***

**Research and modeling – **
**       ****Fire behavior; fire-sensitive species**
**       ****fire-adapted species; disease; **
**       ****fire history and climate**
**Provide control areas –**
**       ****Test management practices;**
**       ****Develop and test models;  ***

**Activities That Must Incorporate**_** **_
_**Spatial Burn Severity Information**_

**** NFP Mandated Activities***

**Carl Key, USGS NRMSC**

## Slide 18

## http://burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov/

**http://burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov/**

**Yearly Fires**
**Starting in 2000**

**All NPS Fires > 500 ac**

**Some Atlases**

**Extended & Initial**
**Assessments**

**Others by Request**
**(e.g. DOI BAER Teams)**

**Notes:**
The primary sections (links). Can lead you to select a particular fire.

## http://burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov/

**http://burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov/**

**dNBR**

**Pre & Post Landsat**

_**Downloadable**_

**Fire Perimeters**

**Histogram, Metadata**

**(Full-scene or Subset)**

**Jpegs, **
**Documentation**

**Notes:**
Basic info about the fire. Est. dNBR acres

## Wildland Fire Leadership Council

- The Wildland Fire Leadship Council provides leadership and oversight to ensure policy coordination, accountability, and effective implementation of the National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.
**Question: What are the trends of severely burned acreages by vegetation type on federal lands?**

## Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS)

- ▪ Use Existing Landsat Data ▪ Wall-to-Wall Coverage ▪ 29 Year Trend

**Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity ****(MTBS)**

- Western Fires > 1,000 Acres ▪ Eastern Fires > 500 Acres
-  Approximately 8000 Landsat scenes to be purchased and 	made available

**Notes:**
NPS-USGS work led to recognition of the value to go back thru the Landsat archive and complete fire atlases, where for any area one could have comparable burn data, at the same time, the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) needed a way to monitor trends and account for fire impacts. An annual statistical summary. Other stratifications  (vegetation types, fuel treatment projects).  Does not affect BAER. The main deliverables are perimeters . . ., As well as intermediate products and internet distribution infrastructure.

MONITORING TRENDS IN BURN SEVERITY (MTBS)
Proposal approved by Wildland Fire Leadership Council (for 2006-2011) To monitor fire trends, management effectiveness. Not emergency response.
Funds and effort to be split equally between  USGS Center for EROS, and USFS Remote Sensing Application Center (RSAC).
Assessment and mapping of all agency fires over 1000 ac West, 500 ac East  starting with current fires from 2005 to historic fires back to early 1980s. 
Based on dNBR Extended Assessment; Initial Assessment where needed 
Provide Perimeters and Severity-Class Datasets (unburned, low, moderate and high)
Intermediate products (e.g. Landsat scenes and dNBR) & Web Distribution.
Annual reporting on acres burned by severity class and other strata
Provide Tech Transfer, promote beneficial use of the data.

MRLC = Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium

## An interagency, multi-disciplinary national assessment of vegetation, fire fuels, and fire regime conditions

**An interagency, multi-disciplinary national assessment of vegetation, fire fuels, and fire regime conditions**

**http://www.landfire.gov**

## LANDFIRE Objectives

- Provide the data to agency and field users for fire behavior simulation, fuel treatment planning, resource allocations, ecosystem restoration, and other environmental applications
- Develop methods to capture major ecosystem disturbances and keep baseline information up to date

**LANDFIRE Objectives**

## LANDscape and FIRE management system

- (since March 2002)

- Vegetation Mapping
- By Satellite
**+**
- Ecological modeling

## ►Delivers a “first-pass,” coarse- to mid-scale assessment of fire regime conditions 

►Moderately accurate but quickly delivered

►An interim product prior to delivery of LANDFIRE National products

- ►Moderately accurate but quickly delivered
- ►An interim product prior to delivery of LANDFIRE National products

**LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment**

**Notes:**
The LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment (RA) delivers a "first pass," coarse- to mid-scale assessment of fire regime conditions that is moderately accurate but quickly delivered. The LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment data can be used for national to regional strategic planning, broad ecological assessments, and resource allocation. The Rapid Assessment is designed to fill data needs prior to the release of the suite of LANDFIRE National products. Rapid Assessment data will be replaced by LANDFIRE National data as they become available. 

## Spatially explicit products 

►Reference fire regimes 
►Fire regime condition class
►Potential natural vegetation groups

*	**	**	**	*
- ►Reference fire regimes
- ►Fire regime condition class
- ►Potential natural vegetation groups

**LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment Products:**

**Aspatial products**** **
**       ****►**Reference condition models

**Notes:**
The LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment will describe and map reference fire regimes, fire regime condition class (FRCC), potential natural vegetation groups, and reference conditions through modeling, existing data sets and expert workshops. 

## Products delivered on an incremental basis: 

**LANDFIRE**

**Western US****	****FY 2006**
**Eastern US****	****FY 2008**
**AK / HI****	****FY 2009**

**Notes:**
To meet its objective of mapping vegetation, fire regimes, and fuel characteristics across the U.S. in a consistent and efficient manner, LANDFIRE National employs methods and procedures that have been refined through the LANDFIRE Prototype Project.
LANDFIRE National products comprise a set of 20+ digital maps of vegetation composition and structure, wildland fuel (crown and surface), and current departure from simulated historical vegetation conditions. 
These products will be delivered on an incremental basis, with delivery starting in the western U.S. in 2006 and concluding in Alaska and Hawaii in 2009. 

## ►Existing vegetation composition and structure

►Fire effects models

►Fire behavior fuel models and canopy fuel characteristics 

►Simulated historical fire regimes 

►Fire regime condition class 

**►**Fire effects models
**►**Fire behavior fuel models and canopy fuel characteristics
**►**Simulated historical fire regimes
**►**Fire regime condition class** **

**LANDFIRE is producing digital geospatial data describing****:**

**Notes:**
LANDFIRE is producing digital and spatial data describing existing vegetation composition and structure; fire effects models; fire behavior fuel models and canopy fuel characteristics; simulated historical fire regimes; and fire regime condition class.

## ►Created using consistent methods to ensure national relevance 

►Created at a 30-meter resolution to ensure local relevancy

►Based on peer-reviewed science

►Created through a combination of plot-based data, Landsat imagery, and modeled data

►Disseminated via the USGS National Map

- ►Created at a 30-meter resolution to ensure local relevancy
- ►Based on peer-reviewed science
- ►Created through a combination of plot-based data, Landsat imagery, and modeled data
- ►Disseminated via the USGS National Map

**LANDFIRE products**

**Notes:**
LANDFIRE products are created using consistent methods to ensure national relevance; created at a 30-meter resolution to ensure local relevancy; based on peer-reviewed science; created through a combination of plot-based data, Landsat imagery, and modeled data; and disseminated via the USGS National Map.

## Primary Deliverables (24 layers)

- Environmental site potential and biophysical settings (a.k.a. potential vegetation)
- Existing vegetation cover types and structure
- Wildland fuel deliverables
- Fire behavior fuel models (e.g. Anderson fuel models)
- Canopy fuel layers (e.g. canopy bulk density)
- FRCC deliverables
- Ecosystem fire regime characteristics
- Landscape departure from reference conditions

**Primary ****Deliverables**** (24 layers)**

## Secondary  Deliverables 

- 44 data layers of soils, climate, topography
- Vegetation succession models
- A series of vegetation succession descriptions developed based on VDDT model
- Field reference plot database
- Existing field plot data from many agencies and organizations
- New field plot data collected by LANDFIRE

**Secondary  Deliverables **

## ►Represents the vegetation currently present at a given site 

►Generated using a predictive modeling approach that relates Landsat imagery and biophysical gradients to field-referenced data 

- ►Represents the vegetation currently present at a given site
- ►Generated using a predictive modeling approach that relates Landsat imagery and biophysical gradients to field-referenced data

**Deliverable Example: Existing Vegetation Type**

**Notes:**
Here is an example of a LANDFIRE vegetation data product. The Existing Vegetation Type map represents the vegetation currently present at a given site, often referred to as cover type. The map is generated using a combination of predictive modeling, Landsat imagery, biophysical gradients, and field-referenced data.     

## A conceptual LANDFIRE updating approach

- Wildland fire
- Removal of biomass (logging, etc.)
- Insect & disease (if possible)

- 2.  Update major LANDFIRE deliverables
- Updated existing vegetation trigger updating of fuel models
- Fire regime departure is updated in the same fashion

- 3.  Project year 0 change to the next 9 years
- Require a robust vegetation growth model
- Potentially extrapolate to MODIS data products

- 4.  Assume re-mapping LANDFIRE in the 10th year

**A conceptual LANDFIRE updating approach**

## LANDFIRE Summary

- Currently conducting prototype efforts in eastern US and Alaska
- Rest of conterminous United States to be done by end of 2008
- Alaska/Hawaii done by end of 2009
- Currently starting research on methods to update LANDFIRE using existing resources

**LANDFIRE Summary**

## What is FEAT?

**http://forum.spatialdynamics.com**

- Resides on desktop server (MSDE) and supports field data collection with PDAs.
- Data analysis and report writing tools.
- Interface with ArcMap 9 desktop GIS.
- Includes interactive Protocol Manager.
- Supports FMH data collection protocols, Composite Burn Index, and others.

- FEAT is an integrated tabular and spatial information system that supports data management and analysis for monitoring and reporting of fire effects.

**Notes:**
FEAT employs a modular architecture, consisting of a core desktop database module, field PDA module, spatial module, and Protocol Manager module. A significant feature is FEAT’s ability to support new or modified field data collection protocols, which is essential in addressing the full range of ecological and sampling conditions present throughout the Park Service, and in developing new sampling methodologies. 

FEAT’s spatial capabilities support the integration of field data for sampling allocation and analysis with other information, such as land management planning objectives and fire history. The spatial module supports spatial stratified sampling and spatially based reporting and analysis of sampling results. The Protocol Manager, a dynamic data dictionary that describes the data structure, scientific basis, and metadata contained in a FEAT monitoring database, builds the database attributes for each protocol or field method. The Protocol Manager automatically generates field data entry forms for both the FEAT desktop and PDA modules. It identifies the entity that developed the specific methodology and bibliographic references. 

In combination, the Protocol Manager and the spatial module allow users to access and analyze field data based on location. Data access can be targeted to a specific field method or protocols, or the system can be used to review data that has been collected within a specified area. The inverse of the area search can be used to show where a specific set, or protocol, of data has been collected. The integration of spatial information with the dynamics of the Protocol Manager promotes both multidisciplinary and multi-agency use of monitoring data. 

Contact: 	Nate Benson, NPS Fire Ecology Program Lead
Phone:  	(208) 387-5219

## What is FIREMON?

**http://www.fire.org**

- FIREMON is a fire effects monitoring package
- that includes the following components:

- Integrated sampling strategy.
- Sampling procedures.
- Microsoft Access database.
- Data analysis and report writing tools.

**Notes:**
FIREMON (Fire Effects Monitoring and Inventory Tool) is a mature interagency fire effects monitoring system developed in cooperation with the USDA, USFS, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Science Laboratory.
Includes components and instructions enabling fieldpersonnel to design monitoring projects
Supports field sampling program design

Contact: Duncan Lutes, Systems for Environmental Management, at dlutes@fs.fed.us

## What is FEAT-FIREMON Integrated?

**(FFI)**

- A multi-agency project, FFI integrates FEAT and FIREMON into a single software tool.

- Supports monitoring for federal land management agencies at the field and research level.
- Fully scalable from the site level to the landscape level.
- Exchanges data with LANDFIRE, FRCC, and the Burn Severity (dNBR) Atlases.
- Supports other natural resource applications, such as satellite imagery classification, vegetation, aquatic habitat, fisheries, and wildlife monitoring.

**Notes:**
Building on the National Park Service’s FEAT software and Joint Fire Science Program’s FIREMON application, NPS and their business partners, Systems for Environmental Management, Commonthread Inc., and Spatial Dynamics are developing the FFI (FEAT/FIREMON integration) tool. FFI is designed to be a single source tool that all agencies can use for modeling, assessment, and reporting of fire effects and other monitoring or research activities.

A multi-agency development project, FFI integrates FEAT and FIREMON into a single software tool. This integration of each system’s unique functions has created an enhanced monitoring tool that can accommodate data collection and support cooperative, interagency data management and information sharing. The FFI project is led by the National Park Service.
Supports monitoring for federal land management agencies at the field and research level.
Fully scalable from the site level to the landscape level.
Exchanges data with LANDFIRE, FRCC, and the Burn Severity (dNBR) Atlas.
Supports other natural resource applications, such as satellite imagery classification, vegetation, aquatic habitat, fisheries, and wildlife monitoring.

## Slide 39

## FFI is installed on one computer/server.

**FFI is installed on one computer/server.**

## FFI Modules

**FFI Modules**

**FFI**

-  Data Base
-  GIS Module
-  Data Analysis
-  Protocol Manager
-  PDA Module

## Slide 42

## Joint Fire Science Program Overview

**Initiated by Congress in 1998 **
**JFSP focus: research in support of fuel and fire management programs**
**Joint effort between the Department of the Interior and the USDA Forest Service**

## JFSP Focus Areas

**Fuels Inventory and Mapping**
**Effects of Fuels Treatments**
**Scheduling of Fuels Treatments**
**Monitoring and Evaluation of Fuels Treatments**
**Post-fire Stabilization and Rehabilitation**
**Aircraft-based Remote Sensing**
**“****Rapid Response” Research**
**Local Research Needs**

## How Does JFSP Operate?

**The board sets annual priorities within the program framework**
**Projects are typically funded through a competitive process**
**JFSP Program Office at NIFC**

**How Does JFSP Operate?**

## JFSP Investigations span the nation

## Topics for FY 2005 Funding

**Rapid Response Research on Wildland Fires **
- Effects of previous land management activities or post-fire treatments**  **
**Local Research Needs**
- Meeting needs of managers to fill in knowledge gaps for science-based planning (Included post-fire salvage logging)
**Air Quality and Smoke**
- Contributions of biomass burning to PM2.5, ozone, and visibility
- Methods to distinguish wild fire emissions from other sources.
**Social Science**
- Effectiveness of state and local laws, policies, incentives on fire hazard abatement efforts.
- Effectiveness of fire science application efforts.
**Technology Transfer**
- Extend TT beyond the conclusion of existing JFSP-funded projects.
- Information synthesis.
- Models and decision support systems.

## Program Accomplishments

**Over 270 research projects funded **
**across the US**
**Products include: **

**Visit us at:**
_**http://jfsp.nifc.gov**__** **_

| > 170 Published Papers | > 70 Compact Disks |
| --- | --- |
| > 120 Training Sessions | > 150 Field Trips |
| > 160 Workshops or    Symposia | > 35 Web Pages |

## NPS Fire Ecology Staff

- 22 park fire ecologists with field crews
- 7 regional and 3 national positions
- Park crews distributed based on prescribed fire and mechanical treatment work loads

## Slide 50

## Midwest Region Fire Ecology Program

**Staffing:**
- 4 Fire Ecologists and 5 Fire Effects
- Teams that serve 34 parks
-  Border Waters Area: 5 parks
-  Indiana Dunes: 3 parks
-  Ozark Highlands: 6 parks
-  Northern Great Plains: 11 Parks
-  Tallgrass Prairie: 9 Parks

**Primary work:**
**  **Monitor prescribed fire and mechanical treatment projects
-   Support burn severity mapping
-   Support fire management planning and operations
-   Summarize and present data for managers
-   Fire’s Primary Liaison with Natural Resources staff and 	research community

## Opportunities

- Share data and/or data collection
- Sponsor seasonal position(s) on NPS crews
- Buy additional pay periods for STF employees to do data analysis or planning
- Share permanent positions
- Support joint management of data
- Collaborate on research opportunities
- Other ideas.....