Development of a Forest Vegetation Development of a Forest Vegetation Simulator variant and application Simulator variant and application

software for Ontariosoftware for Ontario

Murray Woods, Sr Analyst, Forested Landscapes, OMNRMurray Woods, Sr Analyst, Forested Landscapes, OMNRDon Robinson, Sr Systems Ecologist, ESSA TechnologiesDon Robinson, Sr Systems Ecologist, ESSA Technologies

February 13-15, 2007February 13-15, 2007

Outline The Ontario LandbaseThe Ontario Landbase Role of FVS in Ontario’s Forest Role of FVS in Ontario’s Forest

Management DecisionsManagement Decisions Getting “here” from “nowhere” Getting “here” from “nowhere” Current Evolution of Model FormsCurrent Evolution of Model Forms FVSFVSOntarioOntario – the UI for Ontario – the UI for Ontario Status and Next StepsStatus and Next Steps

Ontario’s LandbaseOntario’s Landbase

Hudson Bay Lowlands - sparseHudson Bay Lowlands - sparse

Boreal – jack pine / black spruceBoreal – jack pine / black spruce

Grt. Lakes St. Lawrence – Red/White Grt. Lakes St. Lawrence – Red/White PinePine

Deciduous – Tolerant HardwoodDeciduous – Tolerant Hardwood

Ontario’s Ontario’s Landbase

Productive Forest 56.8 million ha (140.3 million

acres)

Non-Forested Land17.0 million ha (42 million

acres)

All Land and Water107.6 million ha (265.9 million

acres)

Forest Cover by Leading Species

For the area of forest mangement

Clearcut 57,723 ha

75%

Seed Tree3787 ha

5%

Shelterwood6769 ha

9%

Single Tree Selection8663 ha

11%

Seeding37,326ha

34%

Planting72,446ha

66%

Regeneration of Annual harvested area Regeneration of Annual harvested area and areas impacted from fire, wind, and areas impacted from fire, wind, etc.etc.

Ontario’s Silvicultural SystemsOntario’s Silvicultural Systems

Based on 2003-2004 Annual ReportBased on 2003-2004 Annual Report

FVSFVSOntario’sOntario’s role in Forest Management in role in Forest Management in OntarioOntario

1.1. Represents our current understanding of Represents our current understanding of the system and how it responds over time the system and how it responds over time to management interventionsto management interventions

2.2. Reduces uncertainty in strategic model Reduces uncertainty in strategic model inputs inputs

3.3. Provides a monitoring target to test our Provides a monitoring target to test our assumptionsassumptions

4.4. Provides a modelling framework to Provides a modelling framework to integrate our existing modelling integrate our existing modelling componentscomponents

5.5. Provides a Provides a “Gaming”“Gaming” or or “What if”“What if” tool to tool to develop silvicultural treatmentsdevelop silvicultural treatments

6.6. Identifies gaps in our “G&Y toolbox” and Identifies gaps in our “G&Y toolbox” and datadata

7.7. Visually animates a stand through timeVisually animates a stand through time

8.8. Provides Ontario with an appropriate tool Provides Ontario with an appropriate tool to grow an enhanced inventory to grow an enhanced inventory

No Marking

0.01.0

2.0

3.0

4.05.0

6.07.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Pole Ssaw Msaw Lsaw

Size Classes

Bas

al A

rea

(m2 /h

a)

UGS

AGS

Marked Light

0.01.02.0

3.04.05.06.07.0

8.09.0

10.0

Pole Ssaw Msaw Lsaw

Size Classes

Bas

al A

rea

(m2 /h

a)

UGS

AGS

Marked Heavy

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

Pole Ssaw Msaw Lsaw

Size Classes

Bas

al A

rea

(m2/h

a)

UGS

AGS

FVSFVSOntarioOntario Timeline20020000

20020055

20020044

20020033

20020011

20020022

20020066

20020077

• G&Y Program Model Review - Fibre, Twigs, Silvah, PrognosisG&Y Program Model Review - Fibre, Twigs, Silvah, Prognosis

• Corresponded with USDA, BC Min. of Forest and ESSA Technology Corresponded with USDA, BC Min. of Forest and ESSA Technology staffstaff

• Completed validation of the LS variant for Ontario conditionsCompleted validation of the LS variant for Ontario conditions

• Initiated GUI modifications to model software for Ontario species, SI Initiated GUI modifications to model software for Ontario species, SI curves, taper equations, volume equations & silvicultural systemscurves, taper equations, volume equations & silvicultural systems

• Initiated calibration efforts of Ontario Boreal and Great Lake Initiated calibration efforts of Ontario Boreal and Great Lake specific growth and mortality equationsspecific growth and mortality equations

• Completed validation of the new OntarioCompleted validation of the new Ontarioequationsequations

• Development of data preparation software toolDevelopment of data preparation software tool

• Compiled larger development and validationCompiled larger development and validationdatabasedatabase

• Expanded species specific model formsExpanded species specific model forms

• Ongoing software/model refinementOngoing software/model refinement

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

SbN PjN PwN Pt SbP

Remeasurement for DBH Growth Equation Remeasurement for DBH Growth Equation CalibrationCalibration

Built on Ontario’s PSP Plot Built on Ontario’s PSP Plot program, with ~5 yr program, with ~5 yr remeasurement intervalsremeasurement intervals

Tre

e R

em

ea

su

rem

en

t T

ree

Re

me

as

ure

me

nt

Ob

se

rva

tion

sO

bs

erv

atio

ns

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Bf

Mh

PjP

PrN

Pw

P

Bw

Sw

P

Sw

N Or

La Ce

Bd Mr

By

PrP Be

Aw Cb

Wb

He Iw Ew Ab

Large Tree Large Tree Diameter Model Model

Jack Pine Planted

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Dbh (cm)

Dbh g

row

th (cm

/yr)

BAL=0 SI=10

BAL=15 SI=10

BAL=30 SI=10

BAL=0 SI=20

BAL=15 SI=20

BAL=30 SI=20

BAL=0 SI=20

BAL=15 SI=20

BAL=30 SI=20

Jack Pine Natural

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Dbh (cm)

Dbh g

row

th (cm

/yr)

BAL=0 SI=10

BAL=15 SI=10

BAL=30 SI=10

BAL=0 SI=20

BAL=15 SI=20

BAL=30 SI=20

Hard Maple (including Quality)

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0 20 40 60 80Dbh (cm)

Dbh g

row

th (cm

/yr)

BAL=0 BA =20 AGS=0

BAL=15 BA =20 AGS=0

BAL=30 BA =20 AGS=0

BAL=0 BA =20 AGS=1

BAL=15 BA =20 AGS=1

BAL=30 BA =20 AGS=1

Hard Maple (No Quality)

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0 20 40 60 80

Dbh (cm)

Dbh g

row

th (cm

/yr)

BAL=0 BA =10

BAL=15 BA =10

BAL=30 BA =10

BAL=0 BA =20

BAL=15 BA =20

BAL=30 BA =20

Diameter Growth TermsDiameter Growth Terms Individual: Diameter, Log(Diameter), Height, Tree Quality Individual: Diameter, Log(Diameter), Height, Tree Quality ClassClass Stand: SI, BA, QMD, BAL Stand: SI, BA, QMD, BAL

DBH growth constrained to 0.95 of fitting observationsDBH growth constrained to 0.95 of fitting observations

Large Tree Height ModelLarge Tree Height Model

Sw Natural Height-Dbh

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Dbh (cm)

Hei

ght (m

)SI=10 BA=10

SI=20 BA=10

SI=30 BA=10

SI=18 BA=10

SI=18 BA=20

SI=18 BA=30

Height Dubbing TermsHeight Dubbing Terms Individual: Height, DiameterIndividual: Height, Diameter Stand: SI, BA, QMD Stand: SI, BA, QMD

Height growth by differencingHeight growth by differencing

Small Tree Small Tree Models

Height Growth TermsHeight Growth Terms Individual: Height, Log(Height)Individual: Height, Log(Height) Stand: SI, BAL Stand: SI, BAL

Height growth constrained to 0.95 of fitting observationsHeight growth constrained to 0.95 of fitting observations

Diameter TermsDiameter Terms Individual: HeightIndividual: Height Stand: SI, BA, QMD Stand: SI, BA, QMD

Re-arrangement of Large Tree Height Model, solved for Re-arrangement of Large Tree Height Model, solved for diameterdiameter

Diameter growth by differencingDiameter growth by differencing

UI written in Visual Basic 6UI written in Visual Basic 6

SimProgSimProg – assigns model keywords and – assigns model keywords and manages model runsmanages model runs

ViewProgViewProg – graphic display software – graphic display software

SVSSVS – Stand Visualization Software – Stand Visualization Software

TLMTLM – Tree List Manager – Tree List Manager

Model Model Components

TLM – Tree List Manager- create & visualize inventory

SimProgSimProg – - plant- thin- harvest- contingent (if-then) activities

Database – - simulation results - Access format

ViewProg –ViewProg – - tabular summaries- graphs (eg BA vs. age)- histograms (eg size distribution)

Core model – - descendant of LS variant- stand-alone executable- text and database I/O

Other text output- SVS- detailed results

SVS – Stand Visualization System

FVSFVSOntarioOntario – The – The Current Toolkit Toolkit

SimProg and ViewProg UI originally written for PrognosisBC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Breast-Height Age (years)

20

24

14

22

28

12

26

18

10

8

16

Appendix C: Red Pine Site Index Curves for PlantationsOntario

Assign Site Quality Assign Site Quality Information

Define Initial Define Initial Stand Conditions Conditions

Juvenile Spacing Juvenile Spacing Treatment

Thinning Treatments Treatments

Single Tree Selection

Uniform Shelterwood

Seed Tree Harvest

Custom Keyword Opportunities

FVSOntario Output Options

US Style Text OutputUS Style Text Output

Visualize Stand - Visualize Stand - SVSSVS

By Species and/or Dbh ClassBy Species and/or Dbh Class

Tolnew2 (2041): GrossTotal Volume

Op

Be

Iw

Mh

GT

V(c

u.m

/ha)

DBH Class (cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 66 746 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 70 78

Tolnew2 (2041): Density

Op

Be

Iw

Mh

Den

sity

(S

PH

)

DBH Class (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 66 746 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 70 78

Stand SummariesStand Summaries

Statistics Summary

TolUn

TolUn1

Ba

sal A

rea

(sq

.m/h

a)

Time(yrs)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170

Development StatusDevelopment Status

Cautiously ready to roll-out model for further Cautiously ready to roll-out model for further testing and evaluation by an expanded user’s testing and evaluation by an expanded user’s groupgroup

Developing training package and workshop Developing training package and workshop programsprograms

Continuing to utilizing visualization products Continuing to utilizing visualization products with with public Planning Committeespublic Planning Committees

Demonstrating the model’s abilities in Demonstrating the model’s abilities in silvicultural silvicultural training sessions with Gov’t and training sessions with Gov’t and Industry forestersIndustry foresters

Developed a partnership with Michigan-TechDeveloped a partnership with Michigan-Tech

Successive refinement of model formsSuccessive refinement of model forms as as data and data and funding permitfunding permit

Developing linkages between polygon Developing linkages between polygon inventory inventory and tree lists for FVS (ITC, and tree lists for FVS (ITC, LiDAR, Statistical LiDAR, Statistical methods)methods)

Gross Merchantable Volume

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2004 2024 2044 2064 2084 2104

Years

GM

V m

3/h

a

Results of Diameter Limit CuttingResults of Diameter Limit Cutting

Lidar Point CloudLidar Point Cloud

FVSOntario – Thank You & Questions

More information …

Murray WoodsSenior AnalystForested LandscapesOMNR

www.fvsontario.cawww.forestresearch.ca/partnership_projects/fibre_production/130-107.htm

Published validation efforts of the LS VariantLacerte, Valérie, Guy R. Larocque, Murray Woods, W. John Parton and Margaret Penner. 2004. Testing the Lake States variant of FVS (Forest Vegetation Simulator) for Testing the Lake States variant of FVS (Forest Vegetation Simulator) for the main forest types of northern Ontariothe main forest types of northern Ontario.. Forestry Chronicle, 80(4). (July/August 2004)

Published Calibration effortsPublished Calibration effortsLacerte, Valérie, Guy R. Larocque, Murray Woods, W. John Parton and Margaret Penner. 2006. Calibration of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) for the major forest Calibration of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) for the major forest species of Ontario Canadaspecies of Ontario Canada. Special Issue, Ecological Modelling. Special Issue, Ecological Modelling

MNR Publication of Validation of Ontario derived equationsMNR Publication of Validation of Ontario derived equationsLacerte, Valérie, Guy R. Larocque, Murray Woods, W. John Parton and Margaret Penner. 2006. Forest Vegetation Simulator Model Validation for Ontario (FVSOntario)Forest Vegetation Simulator Model Validation for Ontario (FVSOntario) .. Southern Science and Information Section Technical Report #120. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, North Bay, Ontario. 398p.

Manuscript prepared for publicationManuscript prepared for publicationWoods, Murray and Margaret PennerWoods, Murray and Margaret Penner. 2007. Revised FVSOntario model forms based on an Revised FVSOntario model forms based on an expanded Ontario data set.expanded Ontario data set.

Donald RobinsonSenior Systems EcologistESSA Technologies Ltd

www.essa.com/downloads/prognosis

Available Reports