GIS Applications in Forestry - Forest Fire Management

This course describes how GIS technology can effectively and efficiently support Forest Risk Mapping. It helps readers to deal with the numerous objectives in forestry mapping and especially in the production of risk maps, utilizing an appropriately structured data base and related data layers like dtms, orhophotos etc. The project has a focus on the use and management of geographic information applied in the forestry domain. It is a case based learning method with emphasis in the field of geographic information technologies. The student is encouraged to follow the steps as described by the case studies, using knowledge from several disciplines like Geography, GIS technology, cartography, mathematics. Also this module facilitates the exchange, flow and cocreation of knowledge and the development of new learning materials for forestry.

Major Topics of the Module

Utilizing inputs of fire fuel type, topography data, weather data, and initial fuel moisture data, fire risk is calculated and risk maps are produced for a given area. The steps that must be used to create a geodatabase that can support geoprocessing analysis and produce reliable products, regardless of the method of modelling, are introduced and the detailed steps are also presented. More specifically:

The model of analyses has been pre-defined and based on the PRA.MS method. In this method, a score is assigned for each informational layer in order to obtain a weighted risk index. In the model, three main component are evaluated and classified:

In exercise module 1 it is shown in detail:

• Which layers are important for creating fire risk maps
• How to collect and organize our data sets or in terms of GIS our feature data sets, by creating a geodatabase
• How to implement a Fire risk (hazard) model
• Shows the Methodology for fire risk analysis
• Shows the production of fire risk maps for the study area
• Shows also the geoprocessing analysis implemented by various functions such as performing basic Hot Spot analysis, creating thematic overlays and performing proximity analysis.

In exercise module 2 it is shown in detail:

• Selecting and downloading Landsat Level 1 GeoTIFF data
• The structure of the downloaded files
• The properties of Landsat Level 1 Data
• Software available (freeware)
• Installation of SNAP (ESA) software
• Introduction to SNAP software
• Practical techniques for image processing Landsat L1 data
• Methods for fire detection / monitoring
• How to perform a classification (supervised – non-supervised) and the relevant workflow.

In exercise module 3 it is shown in detail:

• The Basic Principles for Forest Fire modelling /simulation, regarding the inputs, the Model and the Output
• The selection of forest fire simulation software and the Selection criteria
• Presentation of the FARSITE software
• Presentation of the implementation steps such as
• The Initiation and Run of the Simulation.

Major formats used are: PDF documents, Powerpoint presentations, (.ppt files), shapefiles (.shp files) & geodatabase ArcGIS format.

The module structure in terms of chapters is separated into three building blocks.

The Fire Risk Mapping block module, the Fire Monitoring block module and the Fire Simulation block module. For each module there is one presentation lecture giving briefly the general picture of each module, two pdf files , one with the general overview of the specific module and one with the detailed text including all the successive steps in detail that are needed for the reader to finish each module.

The main learning units are:

• How to create fire risk maps
• Techniques for image processing and Methods for fire detection / monitoring
• How to perform Forest Fire modelling /simulation

After completing these (3) three modules the learner is expected to be able to:

1. create a geodatabase for fire forest risk mapping
2. to implement a fire risk model
3. to choose the methodology for fire risk mapping
4. to identify the appropriate satellite image data sets and how to download them
5. to install the FOSS SNAP (ESA) software for image analysis
6. to perform basic image analysis techniques for processing Landast images
7. to choose methods for fire detection /monitoring
8. to understand the basic principles of Forest Fire Modelling/simulation
9. to choose the appropriate forest simulation software
10. to perform all the implementation steps needed for running a fire simulation using the FOSS FARSIT software.

Students, GIS analysts, members of Civil Protection Units, members of Fire Departments, Fire Crews, Policy makers.

Basic knowledge of ArcGIS technology and image processing is required.

Pdf documents, Power point presentations, shapefiles ( .shp files) & geodatabase ArcGIS format.