Using FIA data in the Forest Vegetation Simulator

Abstract

The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) is a national system of forest growth models maintained by the USDA Forest Service. It is the official tool for stand growth projection on National Forest lands, but it is also used widely on other ownerships. Model extensions and post-processors permit FVS users to perform a broad range of functions, including silvicultural manipulations, wildlife habitat analyses, and fuel treatment evaluations. Because FIA data were made available in FVS-ready format through the FIA Mapmaker interface, an increasing number of users have been using FVS as their tool of choice for compilation of FIA data at the plot level. With the transition from Mapmaker to FIDO, users who have built analysis systems around this data availability have lost access to new data. Due to the need to update FIA-FVS data translation, there is an opportunity to re-design the system to eliminate prior limitations and take advantage of recent developments in FIA and FVS. Select capabilities of FVS, and potential modifications and enhancements to the FIA-FVS linkage are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium 2008; October 21-23, 2008; Park City, UT

Citation

Shaw, John D. 2009. Using FIA data in the Forest Vegetation Simulator. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium 2008; October 21-23, 2008; Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 16 p.