Overview

The BehavePlus fire modeling system is a PC-based program that is a collection of models that describe fire behavior, fire effects, and the fire environment. It is a flexible system that produces tables, graphs, and simple diagrams and can be used for a multitude of fire management applications. BehavePlus is the successor to the BEHAVE fire behavior prediction and fuel modeling system (Andrews 1986, Andrews and Chase 1989, Burgan and Rothermel 1984, Andrews and Bradshaw 1990). It is called the BehavePlus fire modeling system to reflect its expanded scope. Development continues with the addition of fire modeling capabilities and features to facilitate application.

• Where BehavePlus Fits In
• Application of BehavePlus
• Fire Modeling Capabilities
• Operation Features
• Training and Documentation
• BehavePlus Development History

Where BehavePlus Fits In

BehavePlus is part of a suite of fire behavior systems that includes FlamMap, FARSITE, and FSPro. These are complementary systems that are based on essentially the same fire models. FlamMap, FARSITE, and FSPro are spatial systems that use the same base GIS data. BehavePlus is a point system with input supplied interactively by the user. BehavePlus is the appropriate tool for many applications; use of the spatial systems may be "overkill." In any case, a person should use BehavePlus to understand basic fire modeling concepts before moving to application of spatial systems. Following are some points of comparison:

• BehavePlus fire modeling system
  • Can be considered a 'point' system.
  • Each calculation is for a set of uniform conditions.
  • Rarely is a single calculation done.
  • The user looks at the effect of a range of values on the results.
  • Input is entered by the user. GIS data are not used.
  • Results are in the form of tables, graphs, and simple diagrams.

• FlamMap fire mapping and analysis system
  • Adds the spatial component.
  • Point calculations are done for each pixel.
  • Conditions are constant in time, but vary in space.
  • Minimum travel time and other options are also available in FlamMap.
  • Used to examine potential fire behavior across the landscape.

• FARSITE fire area simulator
  • Adds the temporal component.
  • Conditions vary in both time and space.
  • Fire growth simulation.
  • The fire behavior at a pixel depends on the adjoining pixels and the time it burned.

• FSPro fire spread probability
  • Probability of fire spread from a known perimeter or point.
  • Not a fire perimeter like FARSITE.
  • Not a projection of fire size.
  • Results are based on thousands of FARSITE simulations for simulated weather sequences.
  • FSPro modeling requires computing power beyond that available on a personal computer.

Application of BehavePlus

BehavePlus can be used for any application that involves modeling fire behavior and effects. Following are some brief examples.

Predicting the behavior of an ongoing fire was the original application as described by Rothermel (1983) in "How to Predict the Spread and Intensity of Forest and Range Fires."

Prescribed fire planning involves defining criteria that define a range of conditions during which a prescribed fire may be ignited and held as a prescribed fire. BehavePlus provides a feature of relating conditions to acceptable fire conditions. Contingency planning can make use of spotting distance, probability of ignition, spot fire growth, and containment modeling.

Fuel hazard assessment includes modeling the effect of a change in surface and crown fuel on calculated fire behavior under various fuel moisture and wind conditions.

Model understanding is critical to any application of model results from BehavePlus or other systems (FlamMap, FARSITE, and others). Plots can be used to compare calculated fire behavior for several surface fire fuel models, for different crown base heights, and so on. The sensitivity of the calculations to various input values can be examined. BehavePlus includes a description of input and output variables in the help window. BehavePlus is well suited to training and education applications.

Fire Modeling Capabilities

Many fire models are available, organized according to modules. Following is a summary of some of the fire modeling capabilities in BehavePlus, by module.

• SURFACE module
  • Surface fire
  • Rate of spread
  • Flame length
  • Standard fuel models (13 + 40)
  • Custom fuel modeling
  • Special case fuel models including palmetto-gallberry
  • Wind adjustment factor

• CROWN module
  • Crown fire
  • Transition from surface to crown fire
  • Rate of spread
  • Fire type - surface, torching, conditional crown, crowning
  • Flame length and intensity
  • Power of the fire, Power of the Wind

• SAFETY module
  • Safety zone size based on flame length
  • Area, perimeter
  • Separation Distance

• SIZE module
  • Point source fire, steady-state spread
  • Perimeter
  • Shape, length-to-width ratio
  • Area

• CONTAIN module
  • Fire containment of a point source fire
  • Containment success given line construction rate, resource duration, etc.
  • Final size, fireline constructed

• SPOT module
  • Maximum spotting distance
  • Torching trees
  • Burning pile
  • Wind-driven surface fire

• SCORCH module
  • Crown scorch height from surface fire flame length and tilt

• MORTALITY module
  • Tree mortality
  • Probability of mortality from crown scorch

• IGNITE module
  • Probability of ignition
  • From firebrand
  • From lightning

• Fire Characteristics Chart
  • Graphical representation of modeled or observed fire behavior for
    • Surface Fire Behavior
    • Crown Fire Behavior

Operation Features

BehavePlus can be run in a very simple manner: requested values are input and the calculations are done. But there are many options in the program that are useful to a more advanced user. Following are just a few examples:

• Export of results as an HTML file for use with a spreadsheet or other program for further analysis or plotting.
• Table shading for acceptable fire conditions. Conditions that don't meet the specified criteria are crossed off or left blank.
• Graph options for size, line colors, grid, labels, etc.
• Units and displayed decimal can be changed.
• Worksheet headings and notes section can be changed.
• All of a project's runs and worksheets can be saved in a separate workspace.
• Output from BehavePlus can be used in the stand-alone Fire Characteristics Chart.

Training and Documentation

Documentation and training material has been updated due to funding from U. S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management and from the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP).

The following publications are available on the BehavePlus Publications page.

• A Features paper helps users better understand BehavePlus and use it more effectively. It is based in part on material in the self-study lessons regarding program operation available on the Training page.
• A Variables paper describes input and output variables. It is packaged with the program and can be accessed from the Help menu item.
• The User's Guide describes only program operation. It is packaged with the program and can be accessed from the Help menu item. The Version 4.0 User's Guide remains valid and was not updated for Version 5.0.
• A Fire Characteristics Chart paper describes application and operation of the stand-alone Fire Characteristics Chart, which is part of the BehavePlus fire modeling system. It is packaged with the program and can be accessed from the Help menu item.

BehavePlus Development History

The DOS BEHAVE fire behavior prediction and fuel modeling system was first available to the field in 1984. JFSP funded a much-needed redesign and update to the BehavePlus fire modeling system version 1.0 in 2002. Each version update has offered additional features and fire modeling capabilities. Version 2 was released in 2003, Version 3 in 2005, Version 4 in 2008, and Version 5 in 2009. The Fire Characteristics Chart was releaased in 2011. A description of changes from the old BEHAVE system through each version of BehavePlus is available as a PDF.