BioSum (Bioregional Inventory Originated Simulation Under Management)

Tool Developers: Larry Potts, Jeremy S. Fried, and Lesley Bross

Bioregional Inventory Originated Simulation Under Management 

BioSum provides simulation-based analytical tools that leverage data from FIA — the nation's forest census — to predict, and statistically summarize the consequences of forest management strategies over multi-million-acre forested landscapes. Management strategies can be multi-objective, vary among owner groups, evolve over time, and be contingent on targeted sets of specific site and vegetation attributes. Hundreds of alternative silvicultural sequences can be simulated, evaluated, and compared and best alternatives can be selected for each forested acre via user defined heuristics.

Purpose and Scope

BioSum is suitable for addressing a variety of policy relevant questions concerning forest landscape management such as: 

• Cost and effectiveness of forest health restoration
• Potentially sustainable yields of timber and feedstock for wood biomass energy generation
• Most promising locations for building biomass energy facilities
• Cost effectiveness of alternative fuel treatments Implications of stand density and surface fuels management for forest carbon dynamics 

The MS Windows-based BioSum software and all component models in the analytic framework are free, downloadable, documented and supported.

Please visit biosum.info for details about what this software can accomplish, case studies of its use, links to download software, related data, and a users’ guide, and to view a complete list of BioSum related publications.

Schematic: The BioSum framework connects Forest Inventory and Analysis data with the Forest Vegetation Simulator and treatment cost simulations to predict how prospective management alternatives will translate to fire resistance, climate mitigation, and sustainable production of feedstocks for renewable wood products and bioenergy.

Partners

• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
• Portland State University
• California Energy Commission
• Energy and Biosciences Institute
• Oregon Department of Forestry
• Joint Fire Sciences Program