Analytical tools are needed for assessing the cost and effectiveness of large-scale prescribed fire programs. Cost and effectiveness trade-offs for U.S. Department of Interior (USDI) fuels treatment programs were analyzed, with particular emphasis on National Park Service (NPS) hazard fuel reduction projects. A prototype simulation model was developed for the Mineral King study area in Sequoia-...

Land managers need cost-effective methods for mapping and characterizing fire fuels quickly and accurately. The advent of sensors with increased spatial resolution may improve the accuracy and reduce the cost of fuels mapping. The objective of this research is to evaluate the accuracy and utility of imagery from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellit...

Land managers need cost-effective methods for mapping and characterizing fire fuels quickly and accurately. The advent of sensors with increased spatial resolution may improve the accuracy and reduce the cost of fuels mapping. The objective of this research is to evaluate the accuracy and utility of imagery from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellit...

Designing woody fuel sampling methods that quickly, accurately and efficiently assess biomass at relevant spatial scales requires extensive knowledge of each sampling method’s strengths, weaknesses and tradeoffs. In this study, we compared various modifications of three common sampling methods (planar intercept, fixed-area microplot and photoload) for estimating fine woody surface fuel componen...

The United States Marine Corps has some of the most advanced weapons systems and training in the world, yet they make extensive use of “low tech” training tools. Sand table exercises and tactical decision games are used by Marines all over the world, at sea and on land. Although the U.S. Department of Defense has a nearly $18 billion annual training budget, the Marines choose to teach decision ...