Treesearch

Maintaining a proper balance between fundamental and applied research is only one of the important considerations that must be adhered to in the management of Forest Service research. A critical mass of scientists with the necessary professional and technical staff is needed over the long haul for difficult research problems. The project leader must know how he or she intends to reach the user with research products. A conceptual flow of information from problem delineation through basic research to development of models and systems and, finally, testing and transfer to operational units...

For the next 10 years, few changes will be made to the fire-danger rating system. During that time, the focus will be on the automation of weather observing systems and the streamlining of the computation and display of ratings. The time horizon for projecting fire danger will be pushed to 30 days by the late 1990's. A close alignment of the fire-danger rating system with the fire-behavior and fire-planning systems will occur with there lease of the second-generation fire model in the late 1990's. Improved utilization of all of these systems will be delayed until more structured approaches...

A laser ignition device for controlled burning of forest logging slash has been developed and successfully tested. The device, which uses a kilowatt class carbon dioxide laser, operates at distances of 50 to 1500 meters. Acquisition and focus control are achieved by the use of a laser rangefinder and acquisition telescope. Additional uses for the device include back burning, selected undergrowth removal, safe ignition of oil spills, and deicing. A truck mounted version will be operational by fall 1987 and an airborne version by summer 1988.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, uses prescribed fire for habitat improvement on over 400 National Wildlife Refuges across the United States. Wildfire is a problem on some refuges. Escaped fires have resulted in fatalities and the loss of millions of dollars in natural and man-made resources. The Service recognized the critical need for training in fire behavior, fire suppression and fire safety. A unique training and training development contract and program are described through which nearly 300 National Refuge System employees have been trained to safely...

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), responds to a wide variety of disasters throughout the world every year. These disasters range from "slow-moving" events like prolonged drought or plagues of grasshoppers and locusts to "fast-moving" threats to human populations resulting from fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes. Although disaster types vary considerably, there is a recurring theme of disaster assistance elements that constitutes a meaningful and effective response. Critically evaluating...

An "integrated fire behavior/fire danger rating system" should be "seamless" to avoid requiring choices among alternate, independent systems. Descriptions of fuel moisture, fuels, and fire behavior should be standardized, permitting information to flow easily through the spectrum of fire management needs. The level of resolution depends on the application, but the same central processor can be used. Three tasks must be carried out to reach the goal: (1) determination of fire management needs, (2) development of a central processor to be used as the core of the system, and (3) development...

Predicting the effects of fires in the year 2000 and beyond will be enhanced by the use of expert systems. Although our predictions may have broad confidence limits, expert systems should help us to improve the predictions and to focus on the areas where improved knowledge is most needed. The knowledge of experts can be incorporated into previously existing knowledge bases, and the process of extracting knowledge from experts will help the expert to make more astute observations and to examine the judgments made. Expert systems also have potential in educational and training processes. By...

Artificial intelligence could be used in Forest Service fire management and land-use planning to a larger degree than is now done. Robots, for example, could be programmed to monitor for fire and insect activity, to keep track of wildlife, and to do elementary thinking about the environment. Catching up with the fast-changing technology is imperative.

Futuring Group 7 identified nine trends that frame the way prescribed fire will be used in the future. The group identified three key visions and associated strategies.

Public agencies involved in natural resource management and fire protection will face many challenges over the next few decades, including decreasing real budgets, lower staffing levels, increasing responsibilities, expanding technologies and a more sophisticated and demanding public. In addressing these challenges, resource managers must be prepared to enter a new phase of interagency cooperation in which authority and responsibilities are pooled for more efficient utilization. Closer liaison must also be established with higher education to insure both the development of needed technologi...