TOOL  

Name:     Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FFE FVS)

Date Published:  2003

Brief Description:  The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), at its most basic level is a family of forest growth simulation models. Since its initial development in 1973, it has become a system of tightly linked analytical tools. These tools are based upon a growing body of scientific knowledge gleaned from decades of natural resources research.

Complete Description:  The Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE) to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) simulates fuel dynamics and potential fire behaviour over time, in the context of stand development and management. The Fire Effects Model Extension is a new extension to FVS and the PPE that allows users to simulate the effects of fire on a number of indicators, including stand structure and composition, fuel loading, and size and density of snags. In the absence of fire, the model can be used to simulate snag and fuel dynamics resulting from tree growth and mortality and stand management. While the model produces indicators of stand risk to fire (in terms of potential flame length), the model cannot be used to simulate fire spread or the probability of a fire. A brief description of the model is given here, with some sample results showing some of the new indicators at the stand and landscape level. The Fire and Fuels Extension includes three major submodels: 1. A snag model for tracking and simulating decay and fall down of standing dead trees. 2. A fuel model that simulates the accumulation (through litterfall and other sources) and decomposition of surface fuel, tracks canopy fuel characteristics, and selects fire behavior fuel models. 3. A fire model that simulates fire intensity and fire effects on trees, snags, and fuel as well as smoke production and mineral soil exposure.

Citation: 

Related Resources*

Resource Name:

Relationships Between Models Used To Analyze Fire and Fuel Management Alternatives An introduction to the fire and fuels extension to FVS An overview of the fire and fuels extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator The Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator. Gen.Tech Rep. RMRS-GTR-116. Fire and fuels extension to the forest vegetation simulator: completion of calibration for eastern forests, provisions for user training, and program maintenance Addendum -- The Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Models: A Comprehensive Set for Use with Rothermel's Surface Fire Spread Model

Availability & Use

Distribution ®	Format ® Online Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/fvs/ Fees: none Instructions: available at http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/fvs/
Contact Information ®	Individual: Organization: Forest Management Service Center Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC) Position: Address: Telephone: (970) 295-5770 Fax: E-mail: Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Mountain standard time) Monday through Friday Instructions: URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/index.php
Suggested Use:	simulates the dynamics of snags and surface fuels as they are affected by stand management (of trees or fuels), live tree growth and mortality, and fires.
Suggested User:	fire and fuel managers
Liability Information:	No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from the originator(s) of the data, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The distributor(s) shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
Use Constraints:	Please provide the appropriate citation/credit to the contributor(s) or individual/organization(s) that should receive recognition for their contribution to the tool
Access Constraints:	unknown

Spatial Domain Information

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Time Period of Content

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Contributors

Name/Organization	Contribution	Role	Contact Information
Forest Management Service Center Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC)		contributor
Joint Fire Sciences Program		contributor
Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service		contributor
ESSA Technologies		contributor

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer

Technical Information

Minimum Requirements ®
Recommended Requirements ®
Input:	snags or standing dead trees first and second order effects of a fire on the stand fuels component tracks litter, duff, and woody surface fuels
Output:	snag size species distributions predicted fire behavior fire effects predicted fuel loadings over time potential flame length canopy base height canopy bulk density torching and crowning indices stand mortality fuel consumption smoke production tree mortality

Support Information

Support Information ®	Title: Forest Service Management Center contacts can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/contact.php Telephone:  Fax:  E- mail: URL:
Reported Bugs ®
Testing Information ®
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Metadata Reference

Details ®	Created Date: 5/5/2005 Metadata Creator: Chris Szell The Nature Conservancy 6114 Fayetteville RdSuite 109 Durham, NC  27713  USA (919) 484-7857 Ext. 142 cszell@tnc.org Type: FRAMES tool Security Information: Extensions: Schema: http://frames.nbii.gov/metadata/tools/tools.xsd
Keyword(s):	FRAMES subject categories communications FRAMES subject categories fire behavior FRAMES subject categories fire effects FRAMES subject categories fuels FRAMES subject categories models FRAMES subject categories prescribed fire GACC regions ALL
Alternate ID ®	ID: 01-1-7-07 ID System: JFSP

Additional Information

	For additional resources, disclaimers,  and other FRAMES contact information, please visit the FRAMES website, at http://frames.nbii.gov.
	*Please note: Depending on metadata completion, upkeep, and availability, not all related resources may be available through FRAMES. Where there is a discrepancy between a FRAMES record and the original resource, please verify with the creators or original source of the material.