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REM407
Syllabus
Instructor
Camille Stevens-Rumann
Instructor and Research Scientist
Wildland Fire Program
College of
Natural Resources
Phone: (208) 885-8340
Email:
csrumann@uidaho.edu
Teaching Assistant
Donovan Birch
Graduate Student
Wildland Fire Program
College of
Natural Resources
Email:
birc7015@vandals.uidaho.edu
Course Objectives
- Insight in the use
of the spatial technologies GIS, GPS and remote sensing in
fire incident mapping.
- Expanded understanding of how GIS databases are structured for
vector and raster data including database query
- GIS overlay analysis - occurrence of fire in relation to topography and
vegetation. Understanding the concept of conditional probability.
- Understanding the structure of fire-atlas data, historic and present
fire patterns and limitations in GIS fire-atlas data.
- Remote sensing applications - estimating fire severity using the Delta NBR Index and understand the relationship to Burned Area Reflectance
Classification (BARC) maps. Advantages and limitations.
- Understanding succession-disturbance dynamics demonstrated with the
Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT). The role of GIS in spatially
explicit landscape dynamics modeling.
- Understand how fire behavior and fire effects models, such as those
incorporated in the Wildland Fire Assessment Tool, can be used for
assessments and how results from management alternatives can be included
in planning documents.
- Understanding the role of GIS in Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC)
estimates, advantages and limitations.
- Become familiar with the spatial data layers available via the LANDFIRE
web site and applications of such data.
Required Readings
This course does not
require a textbook. The students are required to read assigned
scientific papers available on-line via the University of Idaho Library.
HELP
Reading 1: Gollberg G.E., Neuenschwander
L.F., Ryan K.C., 2001. Introduction: Integrating spatial technologies and
ecological principles for a new age in fire management, International Journal of
Wildland Fire, 10, 263-265.
Reading 2: No reading this week Reading 3:
Rollins M.G., Swetnam T.W.,
Morgan P., 2001. Evaluating a century of fire patterns in two Rocky Mountain
wilderness areas using digital fire atlases, Can. J. For. Res. 31:2107-2123. Reading 4: Keane R.E., Burgan R., van Wagtendonk
J., 2001. Mapping wildland fuels for fire management across multiple scales:
Integrating remote sensing, GIS and biophysical modeling, International Journal
of Wildland Fire, 10, 301-319
Reading 5: Wildland Fire
Assessment Tool User's Guide. Review chapter 3 and 4 Reading
6:
Key
CH and Benson NC. 2006. Landscape assessment. Sampling and Analysis
Methods, USDS Forest Service General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-164-CD,
pdf
Reading 7:
Bunting, S.C.,
E.K. Strand and J.L. Kingery. 2007. Landscape
characteristics of sagebrush steppe/juniper
woodland mosaics under varying modeled
prescribed fire regimes. Tall Timbers Fire
Ecology Conference Proceedings, October 2005,
Bartlesville, Oklahoma. pdf
Reading 8: Hann W.J. and Bunnell D.L.,
2001. Fire and land management planning and implementation across multiple
scales, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 10, 389-403
Internet Resources
Delta
NBR -
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr164/rmrs_gtr164_13_land_assess.pdf
Fire Monitoring and Inventory Protocol (Firemon) -
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr164.pdf
Fire
Research and Management Exchange System (FRAMES)-
http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt
Public
domain software for fire - http://www.fire.org/
Fire
Area Simulator (Farsite) - http://www.fire.org/
(click on Farsite)
Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT) -
http://www.essa.com/downloads/vddt/index.htm
Fire Regime Condition Class concept -
http://www.fire.org/frcc/
Landfire, National Fire Plan - http://www.landfire.gov/index.php
Forest Service Region 1 GIS data - http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gis/
Assignments
You will be given six homework assignments which
require hands on use of GIS or literature readings. The
assignments generally consist of answers to database query, maps
or tables created in the lab exercises or a short writing
assignment.
Discussion Grading
We will have one threaded discussions in REM407:
Introductions and Spatial Technology during Fire Incidents
| |
Score |
Quantity |
Quality/Clarity |
Quality/Critical
Thought |
|
|
| 90-100 |
Did the student post
significantly more than two times |
Did the student use new
vocabulary, and make his/her points clearly |
Did the student respond
professionally to the critique or questions of fellow students? |
|
|
| 80-89 |
Did the student post at
least twice on each discussion |
Did the student utilize
information and vocabulary from the required readings and
presentation |
Did the student build on,
or synthesize, the comments of the preceding students? |
|
|
| 70-79 |
Did the student
post anything |
Postings were unclear and
did not relate directly to the discussion topic |
As a bare minimum, student
must always be polite to other students. Many topics can be
controversial. It’s OK – even enlightening – to disagree, but do
so professionally. |
|
|
| 0 |
You will get a
score of zero if you do not participate in the threaded discussion
by the required deadline |
|
|
Final Project
Through this course you have been introduced to
examples of how GIS can be used to solve problems and answer
questions in natural resource applications, in fire ecology and
management in particular.
The final project will give you an opportunity
to apply what you have learned in this class to a GIS analysis
application of your own choice using self-selected data or class
data.
The project will be submitted in the form of a
PowerPoint presentation that would take approximately 15 minutes
to present (~15 frames). Since you will not be able to present
your work to the class in person you will type the text in the
Notes Section of the PowerPoint presentation. The presentations
will be posted on the class web site for peer review and grading.
Grading
| Homework |
64% (8 labs at 8% each) |
| Discussions |
6% |
| Final project |
30% |
| Total |
100%** |
**Late work will be marked off 10% of the total grade for everyday
it is late, unless
the student has previously arranged with the instructor to turn in the
assignment late. A previous arrangement must be made more than 24 hours
before the due date unless a medical emergency or unexpected work conflict
has occurred. No other excuses will be accepted and due dates will be
strictly enforced. Any medical emergencies must be accompanied by a doctors
note on official letterhead. *
Plagiarism
Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated in
this class, you are expected to complete the assignments on your own. Please
see the departments plagiarism policies at
www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/CNR/Fire/plagiarismFRFS.ashx |
