1 State & Private Forestry Redesign Assessment Tool

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

3 S&PF Assessment Tool Overview

4 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 multi- state and multi-agency investment and cooperation 4

5 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

6 S&PF Assessment Tool Process Utilizes raster-based spatial format compatible with ArcGIS (GeoTIFF) Preloaded National Data Available (1km) – 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

7 S&PF Assessment Tool Workflow

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

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

10 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

11 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

12 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

13 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

14 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

15 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

16 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

17 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

18 S&PF Assessment Tool National Assessment Example

19 S&PF Assessment Tool National Themes & Objectives ThemeObjective Conserving Working Forest Landscapes Identify and conserve high priority forest ecosystems and landscapes. Actively and sustainably manage forests. Protect Forests From Harm Restore fire-adapted lands and reduce risk of wildfire impacts. 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

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

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

22 Development 65% Woody Biomass 22% Fragmentation 13% Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment Conserve Working Forest Land L E G E N D HighModerateLow 22

23 Insect and Disease 50% Fire Potential 50% Protect Forests From Harm Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment L E G E N D HighModerateLow 23

24 WUI 25% Critical Habitat 75% Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests Priority Watersheds by Area Draft National Assessment L E G E N D HighModerateLow 24

25 Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests 10% Protect Forests From Harm 45% Conserve Working Forest Land 45% Draft National Assessment Priority Watersheds by Area L E G E N D HighModerateLow 25

Draft National Assessment Priority Watersheds by Area L E G E N D HighModerateLow 26

27 S&PF Assessment Tool Web User Interface

28 S&PF Assessment Tool Welcome Screen

29 S&PF Assessment Tool Input Data Layers

30 S&PF Assessment Tool Assign Data to Themes

31 S&PF Assessment Tool Add New Data Layer

32 S&PF Assessment Tool Select Data Layer

33 S&PF Assessment Tool Select Auxiliary Data Layer

34 S&PF Assessment Tool Reclassify Continuous Data

35 S&PF Assessment Tool Reclassify Discrete Data

36 S&PF Assessment Tool Weight Layers and Themes

37 S&PF Assessment Tool View/Edit Results

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

39 S&PF Assessment Tool Status/Update

40 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

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

42 S&PF Assessment Tool Next Steps Mandatory Security Requirements – USDA eAuthentication – Security Certification & Accreditation (C&A) Migrate to Government Data Center Data/System Administration (ongoing) Application Maintenance & Enhancements – Internet Explorer v7/8 compatibility – Enhanced On-Line Help/Tutorial – Data-Preparation & Output Transformation 42

43 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

44 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.

45 S&PF Assessment Tool Questions? Contact(s): Mike Barrowcliff Bill Rush 45