pyfvs-fia 0.2.3
Python implementation of the Forest Vegetation Simulator - Part of the FIA Python Ecosystem
License: MIT
Requires Python: >=3.8
Keywords: fvs, forest-vegetation-simulator, growth-simulation, yield-tables, forestry, southern-pine, loblolly-pine, longleaf-pine, slash-pine, shortleaf-pine, chapman-richards, individual-tree-growth, stand-projection, timber-volume, fia, fiatools, forest-inventory, usda, forest-service

<div align="center">
  <a href="https://fiatools.org"><img src="https://fiatools.org/logos/pyfvs_logo.png" alt="pyFVS" width="400"></a>

  <p><strong>Forest growth modeling in Python</strong></p>

  <p>
    <a href="https://fiatools.org"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/FIAtools-Ecosystem-2E7D32" alt="FIAtools Ecosystem"></a>
    <a href="https://pypi.org/project/pyfvs-fia/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/pyfvs-fia?color=006D6D&label=PyPI" alt="PyPI"></a>
    <a href="https://mihiarc.github.io/pyfvs/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-GitHub%20Pages-006D6D" alt="Documentation"></a>
    <a href="https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-006D6D" alt="License: MIT"></a>
    <a href="https://www.python.org/downloads/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.9+-006D6D" alt="Python 3.9+"></a>
  </p>

  <p>
    <strong>Part of the <a href="https://fiatools.org">FIAtools Python Ecosystem</a></strong><br>
    <a href="https://fiatools.org/tools/pyfia/">pyFIA</a> ·
    <a href="https://fiatools.org/tools/gridfia/">gridFIA</a> ·
    <a href="https://fiatools.org/tools/pyfvs/">pyFVS</a> ·
    <a href="https://fiatools.org/tools/askfia/">askFIA</a>
  </p>
</div>

---

A Python implementation of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) Southern variant. Simulate growth and yield for loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash pine from age 0 to 50 years.

## Supported Species

| Code | Species | Scientific Name |
|------|---------|-----------------|
| LP | Loblolly Pine | *Pinus taeda* |
| SP | Shortleaf Pine | *Pinus echinata* |
| LL | Longleaf Pine | *Pinus palustris* |
| SA | Slash Pine | *Pinus elliottii* |

## Quick Start

```bash
pip install pyfvs
```

```python
from pyfvs import Stand

# Initialize a planted stand
stand = Stand.initialize_planted(
    species="LP",
    trees_per_acre=500,
    site_index=70
)

# Simulate 50 years of growth
stand.grow(years=50)

# Get results
metrics = stand.get_metrics()
print(f"Final volume: {metrics['volume']:.0f} ft³/acre")
```

## Growth Models

pyFVS implements individual tree growth models from FVS documentation:

### Height-Diameter (Curtis-Arney)
```
height = 4.5 + p2 × exp(-p3 × DBH^p4)
```

### Large Tree Diameter Growth
```
ln(DDS) = β₁ + β₂×ln(DBH) + β₃×DBH² + β₄×ln(CR) + β₅×RH + β₆×SI + ...
```

### Small Tree Height Growth (Chapman-Richards)
```
height = c1 × SI^c2 × (1 - exp(c3 × age))^(c4 × SI^c5)
```

## Architecture

```
Tree Initial State
       │
       ▼
   DBH >= 3.0? ──No──► Small Tree Model
       │                    │
      Yes                   ▼
       │            Height Growth
       ▼                    │
  Large Tree Model          ▼
       │            Height-Diameter
       ▼                    │
  Predict ln(DDS)           ▼
       │              Update DBH
       ▼                    │
  Calculate DBH Growth      │
       │                    │
       └────────┬───────────┘
                ▼
        Update Crown Ratio
                │
                ▼
        Crown Competition
                │
                ▼
        Updated Tree State
```

## Configuration

Species parameters are stored in YAML configuration files:

```yaml
# cfg/species/lp_loblolly_pine.yaml
species_code: "LP"
common_name: "Loblolly Pine"
height_diameter:
  p2: 243.860648
  p3: 4.28460566
  p4: -0.47130185
bark_ratio:
  b1: -0.48140
  b2: 0.91413
```

## Output

pyFVS generates yield tables with standard forest metrics:

| Age | TPA | QMD | Height | BA | Volume |
|-----|-----|-----|--------|-----|--------|
| 0 | 500 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0 |
| 10 | 485 | 4.2 | 28.5 | 47.2 | 892 |
| 20 | 420 | 7.8 | 52.1 | 139.8 | 3,241 |
| 30 | 310 | 10.4 | 68.3 | 182.5 | 5,128 |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

## Integration with pyFIA

```python
from pyfia import FIA
from pyfvs import Stand

# Get current stand conditions from FIA
with FIA("database.duckdb") as db:
    db.clip_by_state(37)
    stand_data = db.get_stand_summary(plot_id="123")

# Initialize pyFVS with FIA data
stand = Stand.from_fia_data(stand_data)
stand.grow(years=30)
```

## The FIAtools Ecosystem

pyFVS is part of the [FIAtools Python ecosystem](https://fiatools.org) - a unified suite of open-source tools for forest inventory analysis:

| Tool | Purpose | Key Features |
|------|---------|--------------|
| [**pyFIA**](https://fiatools.org) | Survey & plot data | DuckDB backend, 10-100x faster than EVALIDator |
| [**gridFIA**](https://fiatools.org) | Spatial raster analysis | 327 species at 30m resolution, Zarr storage |
| [**pyFVS**](https://fiatools.org) | Growth simulation | Chapman-Richards curves, yield projections |
| [**askFIA**](https://fiatools.org) | AI interface | Natural language queries for forest data |

**[Explore the full ecosystem at fiatools.org](https://fiatools.org)**

## References

- [FVS Southern Variant Documentation](https://www.fs.usda.gov/fmsc/fvs/)
- Bechtold & Patterson (2005) "The Enhanced Forest Inventory and Analysis Program"

## Citation

```bibtex
@software{pyfvs2025,
  title = {pyFVS: Python Implementation of the Forest Vegetation Simulator},
  author = {Mihiar, Christopher},
  year = {2025},
  url = {https://fiatools.org}
}
```

---

<div align="center">
  <a href="https://fiatools.org"><strong>fiatools.org</strong></a> · Python Ecosystem for Forest Inventory Analysis<br>
  <sub>Built by <a href="https://github.com/mihiarc">Chris Mihiar</a> · USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station</sub>
</div>