# Presentation: 210557

## Lesson 9:

**Lesson 9:**
**Landscape Critique**
**and Editing**

**Notes:**
Section split into three parts
- Slides and general discussion
- FARSITE Demo
- Exercise

## How Many THSP to Critique a Landscape?

**How Many THSP to Critique a Landscape?**

## UNIT OBJECTIVES: 9

**Describe why *****FARSITE***** landscapes may have errors**
**Explore model utilities useful in reviewing spatial data**

## UNIT OBJECTIVES: 9

**Describe & demonstrate the use of fuel conversions, ancillary data, and landscape edit routine**

## Slide 5

## Modeling is a Process

**What is the question or objective?**
**Model selection & data development**
**Data critique and analysis**
**Gather supporting data and information**
**Calibration of the models to a past event(s)**
**Simulation and critique of results**
**Write ups and presentation of results**

## Landscape Critique

**WHY?**
**HOW?**
**TOOLS**

**Notes:**
The process by which spatial data is developed and translated into FARSITE landscape files opens up a number of potential sources for error. 

Some of these are due to procedural mistakes, while others may be a result of development rules that occurred in GIS transforming vegetation data into fuels information. 

The FARSITE landscape offers the user the first chance for detailed review of the data, an important first-step in the use of new landscapes involves landscape critique and editing. 

As the FARSITE analyst is ultimately responsible for the interpretation of model outputs, a fundamental understanding of data development issues is intrinsic to appropriate application. 

Sometimes, errors may be so abundant in the data that new theme files need to be generated from the GIS, but this should be a last resort after all FARSITE –based editing has been explored. 

## Why Is Landscape Critique So Important?

***St. Thomas Aquinas***
**“****A small error in the beginning is a great one in the end.”  **
***Anonymous***
**“****Computers make very fast, very accurate mistakes.”**
***Albert Einstein***
***“******If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.”***
***Homer Simpson***
**“****Facts are meaningless. They can be used to prove anything that's even remotely true.” **

## Why Is Landscape Critique So Important?

***St. Thomas Aquinas***
**“****A small error in the beginning is a great one in the end.”  **
***Anonymous***
**“****Computers make very fast, very accurate mistakes.”**
***Albert Einstein***
***“******If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.”***
***Yogi Berra***
**“****You got to be careful if you don't know where you're**
**going, because you might not get there.”**
***Homer Simpson***
**“****Facts are meaningless. They can be used to prove anything that's even remotely true.” **

## WHY CRITIQUE?THE LANDSCAPE

**Data is generated over large spatial scales**
**Multiple opportunities for data errors**
**You must be aware of data you have**
**Valid ranges of data for the area**

**Notes:**
1. Because of the scales that most FARSITE data layers are developed there is an inherent level of inaccuracy

2. Data errors alone with 8 spatial themes and 3 temporal themes, as well as
wind, weather, and fuel moisture files.

3. Need to have an understanding of the data , how it was developed, assumptions made 
- How can you critique if you don’t know some basic understanding 
of the data you are looking at.

Landscape Data Online Unit 11 give you some idea of data development issues

## WHY CRITIQUE?THE LANDSCAPE

**You must be aware of how limitations in the data interact with the model**
**You can make changes! **
**You can improve outputs and interpretations or conversely worsen them.**

**Notes:**
1. Crown base height to high will not crown to low may crown when should not.

2. You can make changes:
- simple edits do in FARSITE
- numerous edits, complex edits, do in GIS
- FARSITE IS NOT A GIS

3. Or conversely worsen your outputs

## Sources of Error

**DATA**

**MODEL**

**USER**

**Data + User + Model = DUM**

**Notes:**
1. Data errors:
- collection, construction, extrapolation of existing data, development rules
enter wrong units, etc.....

2. User errors:
  - wrong inputs, wrong units, output interpretation errors

3. Model errors:
 trying to model fire behavior outside the assumptions made to construct the models
- model assumptions  model limitations:  
Uses existing FBPS models & as such all the assumptions & limitations are inherent in FARSITE

4. ???? Equals Unknowns, compensating errors, error in interpretation of outputs

5. Don’t be DUM

## Critique and Editing

**Understanding the interactions of components errors in modeling is an art and a science**
**User can adjust to make better predictions**

**Notes:**
1.  Is an ART and a Science..

2.  Or, again worsen outputs

## Critique and Editing

**Remember its only a model. **
**“****All models are wrong, but some are useful” (George Box, 1976)**
**All models need to be validated and calibrated to match observed conditions**
**“****Want the right rate you must calibrate”**

**Notes:**
2.  If you want the right rate you must calibrate

## Landscape Critique

**WHY?**
**HOW?**
**TOOLS**

**Notes:**
Landscape files created over large spatial areas

FARSITE has tools that can help you in the examination of data

## FARSITE Assistance

- Views
- Zoom View
- Change view port
- Change Colors
- Visible Theme
- Ancillary data

- Simulations
- Delay redraw
- Wx Station
- Change view port
- Environment maps
- Landscape Calculator

**Online Help system**
**National Help Desk**
** ****800.253.5559**
** ****fire_help@dms.nwcg.gov**

**Notes:**
Landscape themes are often generated to cover relatively large areas
Makes loading files, slow, tedious, and difficult to see detail

Use the view utilities to zoom, change your view port or extract utility
to see a specific area

1. Views, briefly discuss each one.

2. Simulations, briefly discuss each one.

Environment maps are raster themes that display fuel moistures and weather conditions across the landscape at a specific timestep.
They can be useful in understanding how the topography affects the weather during a simulation. 

	fuel moisture, air temp, rh, and midflame windspeed
	Output > Environment Maps 

Finney, Online Help, fellow students, faculty 

## General Problems

**Corrupted Data**
**Wrong Units**
**Seams Between Data Sources**
**Canopy Characteristics**
**Testing and calibration**

**Notes:**
Likely going off your unit where you may be unaware of how data etc was developed.  Documentation; hopefully or local expertise available

For a quick overview once loaded a project or landscape open the LCP header file

Input > Landscape Utilities > File Information

-General
 Corrupted data: landscape draws, but looks strange, such as unnatural horizontal or vertical linear patterns in data.  This is usually a result of improper file transfer modes when moving files around. Level 1 DEMS horizontal, 10m DEMS horizontal

Wrong Units. Regenerate the landscape with the proper units designated.

Seams between data sources.  Fix in GIS, edit in FARSITE, or make do understanding that error exists. Level 1 DEM corrugations

Canopy characteristics.  Usually requires simulation to see how model outputs deviate from observed/expected.
 canopy cover – category @mid-point values
Landscape passed visual check.  Data still requires computer testing,
calibration, and validation.  Do not assume that landscape data is adequate based solely on visual inspection of the data.

## Landscape File Generation

## Layer Specific Problems

**Slope, elevation, aspect**
**Canopy cover**
**Fuel models**
**Tree height**

**Notes:**
Layer specific problems may include but are not limited too the following errors:

1. DEM’s: Did GIS folks review & edit prior to layer development
 - GRID: hillshade: corrugations, gaps in data
 - Can not easily see in FARSITE other than obscure units, unit outside of expected ranges over large areas
- Level 1 DEMS horiz. Corrugations, 10m DEMS Vertical stripping, NED DEMS
 - Have to fix in GIS
- Calculate slope on a portion of the landscape compare a high spot to a low spot
2. Canopy cover: ocular estimate ?
- Calculated based on equations?
- What are the units?  Categories or Percent?
Inventoried based on densiometer or intercept transects?
Categories midpoint may be too high
3.  Fuel Models: Fuels Inventory data?
- Vegetation mapping? 
- Are there custom fuel models? If so why?
4. Tree height:  units?
Estimated?
Inventory data?

## Slide 20

## Slide 21

## Layer Specific Problems

**Crown base height**
**Crown bulk density**
**Weather, wind, fuel moisture**

**Notes:**
Layer specific problems may include but are not limited too the following errors:

5. Crown base height: units?  Measured?  Calculated some other way
6. Crown Bulk density: Equations? How based? FARSITE defaults? 
7. Do not forget your weather data: wind, fuel moisture data, RAWS stations
8. Unit II Inputs and Selway-Bitteroot report

## How to Critique

**Run some simple simulations to check settings, Wx, model performance**
**Increase complexity of modeling**

## How to Critique

**Its the outputs that count**
**Is fire type right?**
**Is spread direction right?**
**Is spread rate close?**

**Notes:**
1. Is the fire type correct given:
 - Surface fire vs. crown fire? 
- For fuels, weather and topography?
- Fire behavior parameters that you have set?

2. Is spread direction right?  If not why?
- Terrain? Slope wrong? Correct units identified?
- Wind files?  Mis-entered? Direction? Wind speed? – Canopy Cover
- Diurnal variation you did not account for (Burn Period File)
- Seasonal effect on burn period or influences of inversions

3. Is spread rate close to observed?  If not why?
- Mention above plus
- Wrong fuel model?
Wrong spread adjusment?
Burn period file?

## How to Critique

**Can you use ROS adjustment factors**
**Limit the burn period to fine tune spread?**
**Do the fire behavior outputs make sense?**
**Do you gotta bite the bullet?**
**Remember your experience**

**Notes:**
Caution on the use of ROS factors:
	A quick fix that may mask more serious errors in the data
	e.g., Fuels mapping, spatial arrangements of fuels, weather data problems, spatial variations in wind/weather, 
	Data collection averages for large areas...... 
	Was originally intended to account for slowing the fire from being active at night.

1. Adjustment factors?  Will they work
ROS does not affect fire behavior outputs ONLY ROS
Fire behavior have to adjust using different FM, crown base heights,
Adjusting existing FM, e.g., increase fuel bed depth will increase flame lengths
Burn period file

2. DO fire behavior outputs make sense?
- For fuels, weather topography?
- Base on your experience?
- Past documented fires under similar conditions?

3. Is it so bad you can not fix in FARSITE
- FARSITE is NOT A GIS!  FARSITE is a data consumer
- Have to go back to the GIS side.
 Not an efficient data generator or development tool
Do not forget all the years experience you have in fire behavior
Don’t fall into the black box syndrome.  Don’t forget you can make adjustments.

##  View the Landscape

**Spatial themes need to be viewed**
**Assess what you have (imperative)**
**View the landscape, project, or bookmark**
**Look at the LCP header file **

**Notes:**
One of the first things you should do after loading your LCP file is view the 
inputs.

##  View the Landscape

**Look for basic errors in the data **
**Query the landscape**
**Correct units, values outside expected**
**Pattern: seams, heterogeneity, homogeneity**
**View multiple themes**

**Notes:**
Look for basic errors in the data: 

Query the landscape. Many spatial data problems can be identified and tracked by exploring the data fields shown by clicking the left mouse button while positioned over the landscape window.

Look carefully at the values and units given for all the landscape themes. It is quite easy to confuse units associated with topography and aerial fuel characteristics.  

Look for patterns, such as; seams, heterogeneity, homogeneity
correct units; values outside what you expected or things that are just plain goofed up Level 1 DEMS....

Any landscape theme can be viewed (see Output > Landscape Display), but recognize that some themes have narrow ranges of values that are not discrete like fuel model numbers. To clearly differentiate these themes visually, you may have to adjust the colors by accessing the Visible Theme Box in the right hand gutter and changing the color ramp for the theme. 

For example, if you are looking at the elevation theme change the color ramp to “Black....White” which will give you a grey scale appearance.

## Slide 28

**Notes:**
Discuss the differences btw left and right side on the landscape
Data differences, resolution, 
Talking Points: 
- Stanislaus Ntl. For. Left -- Yosemite N.P. Right
- Neither is good or bad:  depending on how the data was collected
- Realize it is reality: point is question your data; don’t necessarily assume it is correct. 
- Alaska 1km
- Averages over large areas may not result in the expected fire behavior based on observed conditions.

##  View the Landscape

**Examine the fuel model layer **
**Logical colors for fuel models**
**Look at fuel model in relation to elevation and aspect**
**Custom fuel models will be rock until the custom fuel model file (*.FMD) is applied**

**Notes:**
Examine the fuel model layers:

Surface fuel model problems can be effectively revealed by creating an easily understood color legend for different fuel types.  

When using custom fuel models, recognize that a unique color legend must be applied (custom fuel models default as black) and saved with a FARSITE project file to make permanent.  

To change colors assigned to fuel models, use the Visible Theme Box and individually select which colors you want to use.

In cases where the GIS theme includes custom fuel model designations, but no custom fuel model file (*.fmd) is applied, these areas will show up as rock.

## Landscape Critique

**WHY?**
**HOW?**
**TOOLS**

## Landscape Edit

**Changes to spatial themes are appropriate when:**
**Its obvious**
**You have exhausted other easier and more likely options**
**Fire type requires changes to fuels to get appropriate fire behavior**

## FARSITE Edit Tools

**Landscape Editor**
**Landscape Calculator**
**Fuel Model Conversions**
**Custom Fuel Models**

**Notes:**
Landscape Editor – Works on multiple themes
	polygon or cell
	can deconstruct a landscape

Landscape Calculator – Conditional statements based on multiple themes BUT Can only change a single theme
	use raster themes to define the area
	deconstruct a landscape

Fuel Model Conversions – 1:1 relationships

Custom fuel models – refine models or change to account for special conditions

## Landscape Editor

**Temporary or Permanent changes to the LCP file (make a backup!)**
**Can change multiple LCP themes at once**
**Can change either by cell or by polygon**

**Notes:**
1. LCP file changes: 
 -Either make a backup copy of original file yourself 
- During editing FARSITE will prompt you make a backup copy.  
STRONGLY RECOMMEND one or the other or both
Work on a copy because then:
Maintain original for backup
Documentation
All changes are temporary unless you make permanent

*All Changes are temporary UNLESS you save the lcp, project or bookmark

2. Edit any of the spatial themes used in constructing the landscape
The 5 required plus 3 optional
Duff and Woody

3. Cell or polygon

## Landscape Editor

**Export as a new ASCII Raster theme or access the landscape calculator **
**Can deconstruct a landscape **
**Document assumptions and logic for making changes**

**Notes:**
4. Export as new ascii theme and access the LCP Calculator

5. Can deconstruct a landscape back to its ASCII raster format.

6.  Updates: IMPORTANT THAT problems get reported back to the unit doing work on
 - IF not numerous or complex good tool
- If numerous or complex go back to GIS
- FARSITE is not a GIS

The Landscape Editor dialog box allows you to change any or all of the landscape themes simultaneously.  This is handy when making updates to reflect treatments that alter a number of characteristics.  For example: 

 A treatment might involve stand thinning, thus effectively changing canopy cover, height to live crown base, and surface fuel model.  If you have a vector file delimiting the treatment area, you can use this as a guide for polygon edits.

 On a cell basis you can change information associated with a stream course area that may not be accounted for in your landscape.

## Slide 35

## Slide 36

## Landscape Editor

**Notes:**
The landscape edit routine is accessed by invoking the following selections: Input > Landscape Utilities > Edit Landscape

Talk about the buttons and order of selection

Change multiple themes simultaneously
Deconstruct a landscape
Change based on polygon or cell
Export as a new theme

## Landscape Calculator

**Permanent or temporary changes to the LCP file (make a backup!)**
**Can change any LCP theme based on criteria**
**Can only change one theme at a time**

**Notes:**
Changes can be temporary or permanent. It is up to the user to decide and save changes to the landscape. Make a BACKUP!!!

Allows the user to change any of the five required and three optional data themes that make up the landscape.

Can only change one theme at a time but based on conditions from several other themes

Export as a new ascii theme. Deconstruct the landscape

Can change themes based on a set of conditions. Conditions can be conditional statements as well as mathematical operations.

These changes are global in nature to either the entire landscape or a portion of the landscape defined by the view port.

## Landscape Calculator

**Conditional statements, mathematical operations, & ancillary raster files **
**Can export as a new ASCII Raster theme & deconstruct the landscape**
**Evaluate entire landscape or a reduced area, e.g., view port**

**Notes:**
Export as a new ascii theme.

Deconstruct the landscape

Can change themes based on a set of conditions. Conditions can be conditional statements as well as mathematical operations.

These changes are global in nature to either the entire landscape or a portion of the landscape defined by the view port.

## Landscape Calculator

**Notes:**
The Landscape Calculator routine is accessed by invoking the following selections: Input > Landscape Utilities > Landscape Calculator.
Deconstruct a landscape
Change 1 theme based on conditions of multiple themes
Temporary unless make permanent

Query based; Example of a query.

The landscape calculator allows you to perform query based operations to make changes to the landscape. As such this allows you to make changes based on a set of conditions. For example, change percent canopy cover based on fuel model, changing fuel model based on current fuel model and elevation, or change crown bulk density values based on fuel model and canopy cover 

Target theme: Any theme used in the LCP including duff and coarse woody and new ascii files

Existing theme: again any theme in LCP including additional loaded raster themes. Do not have to be active 

Steps:
Define the target theme, numerical operator, numerical constant and the operator

What your selection criteria are: Existing theme, operator, numerical value, and operator.

## Fuel Model Conversions

**Make systematic changes to fuels layer**
**fire type requires changes to fuels to get appropriate fire behavior **
**1:1 change, e.g., FM9 = FM11**
**changes are temporary unless you resave the project**
**convert to a fuel model between 14-50 must account for in appropriate places**

**Notes:**
Sometimes systematic errors in the fuel coverage can be fixed using a fuel model conversion file.  If all places where a particular model are represented could be better modeled using another surface fuel model (i.e., a 1 to 1 replacement), a conversion will turn all cells in the base data to the new model as specified in the conversion file.

You then rerun your simulations using these new values and evaluate the outputs and make additional adjustments as required.

Recognize that all areas where a base model applies will be converted to the model number in the second column.  Also remember that the adjustment factors attached to the effective models will apply.

To make changes permanent you must resave the project or bookmark.

If convert to a fuel model with a number between 14-50 will need to make allowances for in the all the appropriate places.

## Fuel Model Changes

**Input > Project Inputs**
- FARSITE** Simulation Legend > Simulation Settings > Inputs**
**Input > Landscape Utilities > Edit Landscape**
**Input > Landscape Utilities > Landscape Calculator**

**Notes:**
Tools in FARSITE to make fuel model changes:

Access the project file and click on the fuel model conversion box. 
(Input > Project Inputs)

In FARSITE Simulation settings in the gutter on the right hand side and access the conversion file.

Landscape Editor.
(Input > Landscape Utilities > Edit Landscape)

Landscape Calculator.
(Input > Landscape Utilities > Landscape Calculator)

## Simulation Testing

**Incumbent on the user to understand data, model settings and limitations**
**Data issues will not be evident until you get poor results**
**Use/investigate ALL model capabilities to investigate model performance**

**Notes:**
In many instances of data insufficiencies will not become evident until simulations give poor outputs.  All of the above comments regarding data review are pertinent for problems illuminated by simulations, so the problem may actually not lie with the landscape data, but other data (e.g., wind stream), model, or user defined settings.  

IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE USER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE DATA AND MODEL SWITCHES BEING USED IN A GIVEN SIMULATION, AND LOOK AT THEM WITH APPROPRIATE SKEPTICISM. 

Explore all model capabilities that may shed light on model performance.  One example is the placement of a weather station to track fuel moistures over the course of a simulation.  

The weather data can then be more scrupulously reviewed in the context of actual model outputs. Use of environmental maps to create a fuel moisture map over the area of concern is another option.

## Simulation Testing

**Weather data, environmental maps, weather stations**
**Calibration of simulations**
**Ensure that noted changes or problems get back to the local FARSITE data manager or steward!!!**

**Notes:**
In many instances of data insufficiencies will not become evident until simulations give poor outputs.  All of the above comments regarding data review are pertinent for problems illuminated by simulations, so the problem may actually not lie with the landscape data, but other data (e.g., wind stream), model, or user defined settings.  

IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE USER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE DATA AND MODEL SWITCHES BEING USED IN A GIVEN SIMULATION, AND LOOK AT THEM WITH APPROPRIATE SKEPTICISM. 

Explore all model capabilities that may shed light on model performance.  One example is the placement of a weather station to track fuel moistures over the course of a simulation.  

The weather data can then be more scrupulously reviewed in the context of actual model outputs. Use of environmental maps to create a fuel moisture map over the area of concern is another option.

## LANDSCAPE EDIT DEMO

**LANDSCAPE EDIT DEMO**

**Notes:**
Landscape Editor

Landscape Calculator

Fuel Model Conversion(?)

Visible Theme Change(?)

Color Change(?)

## Exercise

**All new material**
**Check the file properties**
**Changes need to be **_**permanent**_**!**
**Especially questions 1, 3, & 4**
**Save edited landscape:**
**Name the file sugarloaf_post.lcp**
**C:\s493\lesson12\input**

## REVIEW OBJECTIVES: 9

**Describe why ***FARSITE*** landscapes may have errors**
**Multiple opportunity for data errors (D)**
**User error (U)**
**Model error (M)**
**Don’t be DUM (D + U + M = DUM)**

**Notes:**
Review Objectives; bulleted statements are what was used to support or meet the Section objectives:

Bell Ringer!!!!

## REVIEW OBJECTIVES: 9

**Explore model utilities useful in reviewing spatial data**
**LCP header file**
**Querying landscape**
**Ancillary data**
**Changing displayed data themes**
**Color changes to fuel models**
**Zoom windows**

## REVIEW OBJECTIVES: 9

**Describe & demonstrate the use of fuel conversions, ancillary data, and landscape edit routine**
**Fuel conversion files**
**Landscape editor**
**Landscape calculator**
**Ancillary data adds context**
***FARSITE***** is NOT a GIS **

**Notes:**
Conversion files: permenant vs temporary

Edit landscape: Single cells
	 Polygons

Ancillary data adds context to the landscape

FARSITE IS NOT A GIS: Recurring Theme
FARSITE IS A DATA CONSUMER

## CLOSING

**Notes:**
In closing:

ANY IDEAS or SUGGESTIONS?

ANY QUESTIONS?

OR JUST HUH? (aka Recruit Salute)

## Slide 51

## Slide 52