PLATA Project Level Analysis of Treatment Alternatives

PLATA Description …  Purpose: Provide managers with an easy to use tool for conducting economic analysis in project planning  Developed by Rocky Mountain Research Station  Sponsored by * WO Forest Management * PSW Fire Research * R-1 Forest Management * RMRS Economics Research

Background…  Timber Sale Planning and Analysis System (TSPAS) for DG  TSPAS replacement?  Survey of NEPA coordinators across FS Regions  Decision  Develop replacement program * Variety of Project types * Maintain capabilities for timber sales  Advisory Group * Capabilities important to specific disciplines * Feedback on design

PLATA Capabilities & Features…  Economic efficiency analysis  Apply local appraisal approach * Best estimate of stumpage price * Appraisal information at planning stage * Salability  Trust fund distributions  Summary of planned project accomplishments  Listing of planned expenditures by fund code  Report formats: * Use in NEPA document * Details for project file

Capabilities & Features (continued)...  Option for analysis by treatment unit  Price & cost options * Directly entered * Table look-up * Mathematical equation  Windows application  Standard Windows functionality  Easy for project planners to use  Possible future link to GIS (treatment unit analysis)

PLATA is two programs... Default Database Builder  Region and/or Forest Specific  Default values for prices  Appraisal information  Default values for common costs  Lists (species, etc) Project Builder  Build any number of alternatives  Data entry by alternative or treatment unit  Report comparing alternatives  Detailed Report for an alternative  Report comparing treatment units

Area Default Sets PLATA Default Database Builder PLATA DDB Default Information Manager Default Area

PLATA Project Builder PLATA PB ID Team Project Data Reports Area Default Sets

Reports available in PLATA  Compare Alternatives * NEPA document  Single Alternative * Detail or summary options * Project file  Compare Treatment Units within an Alternative * When data are entered by Treatment Unit

COMPARING PROJECT ALTERNATIVES (Continued)

REPORT FOR PROJECT ALTERNATIVE (continued)

TREATMENT UNIT COMPARISON (continued)