State Private Forestry Redesign Assessment Tool 1

State & Private Forestry Redesign Assessment Tool 1

S&PF Assessment Tool Outline • Overview – Process/Workflow – National Assessment (example) • Application Web User-Interface – Output (example) • Tool Status/Update • Questions/Discussion? 2

S&PF Assessment Tool Overview 3

S&PF Assessment Tool Overview • Web-based GIS decision-support system • Capable of supporting analysis of customized data-sets and scenarios at the National/Regional/State level to guide forestry planning and decision-making. • Highlight conditions and trends, and help identify opportunities and priorities for multistate and multi-agency investment and cooperation 4

S&PF Assessment Tool Process • Standard GIS Weighted Overlay Process – Combination and weighting of multiple factors • Advantages: – Integrative and Collaborative Process – Transparency and Repeatability – Interactivity and Scalability – Comparability Across Geographic Regions (If standard data are used) – Ability to Share and Document 5

S&PF Assessment Tool Process • Utilizes raster-based spatial format compatible with Arc. GIS (Geo. TIFF) • Preloaded National Data Available (1 km) – Used for National Assessments – States can also utilize to augment their data • States should use their own finer resolution data, if available. – 2 -GB file size limit – Upload via FTP 6

S&PF Assessment Tool Workflow 7

S&PF Assessment Tool Conceptual Overview Themes Data Layers National, Regional, State, or Local Forest Fragmentation Woody Biomass Conserve Working Forest Landscapes National Scale Output Regional Scale Development Risk WUI Fire Potential Insects and Disease Protect Forests From Harm Critical Habitat State Scale Water Quality Proximity Jurisdictions Policies Watersheds Others Enhancing Other Forest. Related Benefits 8

S&PF Assessment Tool Workflow Model Home Child layer info Manage data Set divide /mask Reclassify data Done Data layers Layer info Upload layer Done Prepare Data themes Theme info Assign child layers Done Add Data to Themes Analyze data My analyses Create Analysis info Configure themes Setup slice Done Assign Weights Shared Published Analysis Alternative info Weight layer & themes Done 9

S&PF Assessment Tool Prepare Data Processing Steps: • Upload and name your data layers… • Reclassify data layers – allows the user to decide “high priority” values • Masking data – highlights data to area key to the analysis (Forest Mask); 10

Geospatial Assessment Process • Can build on Forest Stewardship Spatial Analysis Project (SAP) • The Data Layers from SAP can be used in the State Assessments • The weighted overlay analysis used in SAP is similar to this process 11

S&PF Assessment Tool Data Disclaimer All data-layers associated with a single analysis must have a common geographic extent, pixel size, pixel alignment, datum, and projection in order for the analysis to produce meaningful results. 12

S&PF Assessment Tool Prepare Themes • Refined Questions for Each S&PF Redesign Theme Conserve Working Forest Lands Protect Forests From Harm Enhance Public Benefit from Trees & Forests Where is productive forest land most threatened by development and fragmentation? Where are forests most threatened by insects, disease, and wildfire? Where can protection of threatened and endangered species (as a proxy for biodiversity) be most beneficial? 13

S&PF Assessment Tool Themes & Objectives • States may add their own objectives • States decide the relative importance of the national objectives • States should define the objectives to address their specific State issues - this is “identifying criteria”… – Requires Collaborative Involvement 14

S&PF Assessment Tool Ranking / Weighting • Determine Goals/Priorities • What is most important in meeting theme goals? Fire, Insect & Disease, Water? • Subject area bias, how do we prevent this? – Those doing the ranking should have influence and oversight over multiple disciplines. – Broader agency goals and existing plans 15

S&PF Assessment Tool Data Aggregation • Chose desired mask and aggregation method (e. g. Forest, Watershed) • Difficult to work with “pixels” on a landscape level – Aggregated map a better communication tool • Not all layers overlap • Preventing unintended uses of the data – “My favorite pixel” • Local decisions still based on local data/information 16

S&PF Assessment Tool View/Edit Scenario • Evaluate Intermediate/Final Results – Easy to see what is driving the maps • Change Weights and Re-Run Outputs – Scenarios (Gaming) • Different Aggregation Units • Swap in Higher Resolution Data 17

S&PF Assessment Tool National Assessment Example 18

S&PF Assessment Tool National Themes & Objectives Theme Objective Conserving Identify and conserve high priority forest ecosystems and Working Forest landscapes. Landscapes Actively and sustainably manage forests. Protect Forests Restore fire-adapted lands and reduce risk of wildfire impacts. From Harm Identify, manage and reduce threats to forest and ecosystem health. Enhance Public Benefits Associated with Trees and Forests Protect and enhance water quality and quantity. Improve air quality and conserve energy. Assist communities in planning for and reducing wildfire risks. Maintain and enhance the economic benefits and values of trees and forests. Protect, conserve, and enhance wildlife and fish habitat. Connect people to trees and forests, and engage them in environmental stewardship activities. Manage and restore trees and forests to mitigate and adapt to global climate change. Themes and Objectives are based on Section 8001 of the 2008 Farm Bill – National Priorities for Private Forest Conservation and were approved by the RIC. 19

S&PF Assessment Tool Ranking / Weighting Assign Data-Layers… Development Risk Map Woody Biomass Map to Themes Development Woody Biomass Forest Fragmentation Map Forest Fragmentation 2000 Wildland Fire Potential Map Fire Potential Conserve Working Forest Lands 2006 Nat. Insect and Disease Risk Map Insect & Disease Risk Wildland Urban Interface Map Wildland Urban Interface Critical Habitat Characteristics Map Critical Habitat Protect Forests From Harm Enhance Public Benefit from Trees & Forests 20

S&PF Assessment Tool Layer/Theme Weighting Assigned weights within themes…. Development 65% Woody Biomass 22% Forest Fragmentation 13% Fire Potential 50% Insect & Disease 50% Risk Critical Habitat 75% Wildland Urban 25% Interface Conserve Working Forest Lands Protect Forests From Harm … then assigned weights between themes… 45% Enhance Public Benefit from Trees 10% & Forests National Assessment 21

Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment Development 65% Conserve Working Forest Land Woody Biomass 22% Fragmentation 13% LEGEND High Moderate Low 22

Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment Insect and Disease 50% Protect Forests From Harm Fire Potential 50% LEGEND High Moderate Low 23

Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment Critical Habitat 75% Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests WUI 25% LEGEND High Moderate Low 24

Priority Watersheds by Area Conserve Working Forest Land 45% Draft National Assessment Protect Forests From Harm 45% Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests 10% LEGEND High Moderate Low 25

Draft National Assessment Priority Watersheds by Area LEGEND High Moderate Low 26 26

S&PF Assessment Tool Web User Interface 27

S&PF Assessment Tool Welcome Screen 28

S&PF Assessment Tool Input Data Layers 29

S&PF Assessment Tool Assign Data to Themes 30

S&PF Assessment Tool Add New Data Layer 31

S&PF Assessment Tool Select Data Layer 32

S&PF Assessment Tool Select Auxiliary Data Layer 33

S&PF Assessment Tool Reclassify Continuous Data 34

S&PF Assessment Tool Reclassify Discrete Data 35

S&PF Assessment Tool Weight Layers and Themes 36

S&PF Assessment Tool View/Edit Results 37

S&PF Assessment Tool Sample Automated Output Report USFS S&PFAT Sample Report 38

S&PF Assessment Tool Status/Update 39

S&PF Assessment Tool History • Initial Design and Development – May 07 to Sept 08 – Requirements Analysis – Data (Availability, Consistency) – Prototype Development (Error Detection, Refinement) • Prototype Enhancement – Nov 08 to Aug 09 – – Streamlined user-interface/workflow Output (Reports, Map Viewer) Data (Local Data, Processing) Role-based access (National, Regional, State) 40

S&PF Assessment Tool Current Status • Transition from ESRI development environment to Interim Hosting Environment (Len. Tech) – New Production Configuration – New Test/Development Environments • Available For Use – Jan ‘ 10 – Pre-Production Use – Ongoing Development/Testing 41

S&PF Assessment Tool Next Steps • Mandatory Security Requirements – USDA e. Authentication – Security Certification & Accreditation (C&A) • Migrate to Government Data Center • Data/System Administration (ongoing) • Application Maintenance & Enhancements – Internet Explorer v 7/8 compatibility – Enhanced On-Line Help/Tutorial – Data-Preparation & Output Transformation 42

S&PF Assessment Tool Lessons Learned • Need clearly defined goals and objectives – what questions are being addressed by analysis. – Interdisciplinary Team (GIS & Program Experts) – Decisions made by Leadership • Refined/Streamlined workflow • Data limitations. – Improvement/Development Needs – Scaling issue(s) with Urban & Community Forestry • Risk vs. Opportunity 43

S&PF Assessment Tool Lessons Learned • Need visualization tools to aid in assessment process decisions. • Need for standardized language (semantics). – Consistency – Understanding • Efforts to make tool user-friendly to “lay” people did not extend to Data Preparation – still requires some level of GIS expertise and knowledge of data. 44

S&PF Assessment Tool Questions? Contact(s): Mike Barrowcliff (mbarrowcliff@fs. fed. us) Bill Rush (brush@fs. fed. us) 45