Piled Fuels Biomass and Emissions Calculator
Description
Land managers needed a tool to accurately and efficiently estimated the biomass of hand-piled fuels as pile burning becomes a more widespread and common method for treating high fire hazard areas with heavy surface fuels. Past pile characterization research dealt only with large, crane-constructed and tractor-built piles which have different physical properties and contain larger fuel particles (tree boles and large limbs.
Purpose and Scope
The calculator allows land managers to more accurately assess biomass in hand piles, leading to better smoke production estimates, improved burn scheduling, and more accurate compliance with the maximum allowable emissions limits as determined by various state smoke management plans.
Release Notes
Without the generous assistance provided by our cooperators this research would not have been possible. Many people participated in the field data collection for this project: Jeff Kelly, Shawn Smith, Ernesto Alvarado, Joe Restaino, Kyle Jacobson, Amy Jirka, and Mike Tjoelker. This research was funded by the Joint Fire Science Program.
Citation
Wright, Clinton S. 2015. Piled fuels biomass and emissions calculator. Portland, OR: U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Inputs:
- Pile type (hand or machine)
- Number of piles
- Pile shape
- Pile dimensions
- Pile composition (conifer or shrub/hardwood)
- Estimated consumption (%)
Outputs:
- Gross volume
- Adjusted volume
- Biomass
- Fuel consumed
- Emissions by pollutant (PM, PM2.5, PM10, CO, CO2, CH4, and NMHC)