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Publications

The publications on this page describe the FARSITE fire growth simulator, models specific to the simulator, and its use in simulating fire growth and fuel treatments. More information on the fire models that form the basis of FARSITE can be found on the BehavePlus Publications page.

These publications are available in PDF format 1 in several ways:

  • [ PDF ] files were generated by the publisher and are fully searchable. (Some of the files currently labeled [ PDF ] will be relabeled [ OCR ] when we add the [ PRI ] version.)
  • [ PRI ] files are PDF files obtained by scanning a paper copy and are retained in a 'pristine' format.
  • [ OCR ] files are scanned copies that have been subjected to 'Optical Character Recognition' conversion. They are searchable, but may contain typographical errors resulting from the OCR capture process. These PDF files are usually smaller than the posted size, which represents the size of the pristine PDF file.

    • To print PDF and OCR publications without the attached warning label (if it exists), select Document under Comments and Forms on the Print window in Adobe® Reader.

 

FARSITE Publication Topics

 

FARSITE Background Material
 
FARSITE Online Help System

An Online Help system is included when you install FARSITE or can be downloaded separately from the Downloads page. Help is invoked by the Help > Contents command. The FARSITE Online Help system is composed of five main parts, shown as "books" in the Help System navigation pane:

  1. A Tutorial showing the basics of FARSITE operation,
  2. The User Guide,
  3. A Reference Guide to document the functionality of the program,
  4. Support (including software support, frequently asked questions, and reporting bugs), and
  5. A Reference Section.
 
Finney 2004 A technical paper documenting the inner workings of FARSITE.

Finney, M. A. 2004. FARSITE: Fire Area Simulator–model development and evaluation. Research Paper RMRS-RP-4 Revised. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (1,667 KB; 47 pages) [ PDF ]

This document is also available from
     the RMRS Publications website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp004.html, and
     TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/4617.

The original version of this paper, published in 1998, is also available as a PDF file. (1,527 KB; 47 pages)
 
Finney 1999, Report A technical paper documenting the modeling of post-frontal combustion in FARSITE.

Finney, M. A. 1999. Spatial Modeling of Post-Frontal Fire Behavior. Missoula, MT: Systems for Environmental Management; Final Report RMRS-99557-RJVA. (90 KB; 8 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Finney 1999 Finney, M. A. 1999. Mechanistic modeling of landscape fire patterns. In: Mladenoff, D. J. and Baker, W. L. eds. Spatial modeling of forest landscape change: approaches and applications. Cambridge University Press: 186-209. (3,898 KB; 26 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
RMRS-GTR-153 The 40 additional standard fire behavior fuel models are described.

Scott, J. H.; Burgan, R. E. 2005. Standard fire behavior fuel models: a comprehensive set for use with Rothermel's surface fire spread model. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-153. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (1,359 KB; 80 pages) [ PDF ]

For those unfamiliar with the additional 40 Fire Behavior Fuel Models developed by Scott and Burgan (2005) additional information on the fuel models as well as a self-study aid for learning to use the new set of fuel models can be accessed from the Fire Research And Management Exchange System (FRAMES) website at the following location: http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=218&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true or go to http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt and select Subject Areas > Fuels.
 
Albini et al. 1995 Albini, F. A.; Brown, J. K.; Reinhardt, E. D.; Ottmar, R. D. 1995. Calibration of a large fuel burnout model. International Journal of Wildland Fire 5(23): 173-192. (1,336 KB; 20 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Albini and Reinhardt 1995 Albini, F. A.; Reinhardt, E. D. 1995. Modeling ignition and burning rate of large woody natural fuels. International Journal of Wildland Fire 5(2): 81-91. (873 KB; 11 pages) [ PDF ]
 
FlamMap Finney, M. A. 1995. FARSITE: A fire area simulator for fire managers. In: Weise, D. R.; Martin, R. E. (tech. coords.). The Biswell Symposium: Fire issues and solutions in urban interface and wildland ecosystems. 1994 February 15-17; Walnut Creek, California. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-158. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 55-56. (647 KB; 13 pages) [ PDF ]

This document is also available from
     the Pacific Southwest Research Station Publications website: hhttp://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr158/psw_gtr158_03_finney.pdf.
 
 
Guides for Spatial Fire Behavior Analysis
 
RMRS-GTR-220 This paper provides guidance on acquiring, critiquing, and editing geospatial fuels data as well as on assembling a geospatial fuels team, model calibration, and maintaining geospatial data and documentation.

Stratton, R. D. 2009. Guidebook on LANDFIRE fuels data acquisition, critique, modification, maintenance, and model calibration. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-220. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (7,715 KB; 54 pages) [ PDF ]

This document is also available from
     the RMRS Publications website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr220.html, and
     TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/31921.
 
RMRS-GTR-183 A GTR that provides guidance to fire managers, planners, specialists, and analysts in the use of “models” (FARSITE, FlamMap, RERAP-Term), tools/programs (KCFAST, RAWS, FireFamilyPlus, WindWizard), and procedures for spatial fire analysis. The approach includes a brief discussion about models and their assumptions and limitations, historical fire and weather analysis, landscape file data acquisition and development, landscape file and model output critique, and model calibration.

Stratton, R. D. 2006. Guidance on spatial wildland fire analysis: models, tools, and techniques. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-183. Ft. Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (1,558 KB; 15 pages) [ PDF ]

This document is also available from
     the RMRS Publications website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr183.html, and
     TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/25139.
 
Keane et al. 2000 A CD-ROM describing techniques to create FARSITE spatial data on the Gila National Forest; This is the text portion of the CD only.

Keane, R. E.; Mincemoyer, S. A.; Schmidt, K. M.; Long, D. G.; Garner, J. L. 2000. Mapping vegetation and fuels for fire management on the Gila National Forest Complex, New Mexico, [CD-ROM]. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-46-CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (490 KB; 131 pages) [ PDF ]

This document is also available from
     the RMRS Publications website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr046.html, and
     TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/4555.
 
Keane et al. 1998 Keane, R. E.; Garner, J. L.; Schmidt, K. M.; Long, D. G.; Menakis, J. P., Finney, M. A. 1998. Development of input data layers for the FARSITE fire growth model for the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Complex, USA. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-3. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (5,873 KB; 66 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]

This document is also available from
     the RMRS Publications website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr003.html, and
     TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/31979.
 
Green et al. 1995 Green, K.; Finney, M. A.; Campbell, J.; Weinstein, D.; Landrum, V. 1995. Fire! Using GIS to predict fire behavior. Journal of Forestry 93(5): 21-25. (271 KB; 5 pages) [ PDF ]
 
 
Fire Growth Simulations using FARSITE
 
Finney 2000 Finney, M. A. 2000. Efforts at comparing simulated and observed fire growth patterns. Missoula, MT: Systems for Environmental Management; Final Report INT-95066-RJVA. (71 KB; 20 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Finney and Andrews 1998 Finney, M. A.; Andrews, P. L. 1999. FARSITE: Fire Area Simulator—a program for fire growth simulation. Fire Management Notes 59(2): 13-15. (71 KB; 3 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Finney and Andrews, Status Finney, M. A.; Andrews, P. L.. 1998. Application and status of the FARSITE fire area simulator. In: Proceedings of the III International Conference on Fire and Forest Meteorology; 1998 November 16-20; Luso, Coimbra-Portugal: 755-760. (4,154 KB; 6 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
Finney and Andrews 1998, Lessons Finney, M. A.; Andrews, P. L. 1998. The FARSITE Fire Area Simulator: fire management applications and lessons of Summer 1994. In: Close K. and Bartlette R. A.,eds. Fire management under fire (Adapting to Change), Proceedings of the Interior West Fire Council Meeting and Program, International Association of Wildland Fire: 209-215. (9,705 KB; 7 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
Finney 1995 Finney, M. A. 1995. Fire growth modeling in the Sierra Nevada of California. In: Brown, J. K.; Mutch, R. W.; Spoon, C. W.; and Wakimoto, R. H., eds. Proceedings of a Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park Management; 1995 March 30 - April 1; Missoula, MT. (4,424 KB; 3 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
Finney and Ryan 1995 Finney, M. A.; Ryan, K. C. 1995. Use of the FARSITE fire growth model for fire prediction in U.S. National Parks. In: Proceedings of the International Emergency Management and Engineering Conference; 1995 May; Sofia Antipolis, France: 183-189. (11,469 KB; 7 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
Finney 1994 Finney, M. A. 1994. Modeling the spread and behavior of prescribed natural fires. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fire and Forest Meteorology. 1993 October 26-28; Jekyll Island, GA. (589 KB; 6 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]
 
 
Fuel Treatment Location Simulations using FARSITE
 
Stratton 2004 A paper describing the use of FARSITE and FlamMap to assess fuel treatment effectiveness.

Stratton, R. D. 2004. Assessing the effectiveness of landscape fuel treatments on fire growth and behavior. Journal of Forestry. 102(7): 32-40. (550 KB; 9 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Van Wagtendonk, 1996 A paper describing the use of FARSITE to test fuel treatments in the Sierra Nevadas.

Van Wagtendonk, J. W. 1996. Use of a deterministic fire growth model to test fuel treatments. In: Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final Report to Congress. Davis, CA: University of California, Centers for Water and Wildland Resources: volume II, chapter 43. (783 KB; 12 pages) [ PDF ]
 
Finney et al. 2002 Finney, M. A.; Sapsis, D. B.; Bahro, B. 2002. Use of FARSITE for simulating fire suppression and analyzing fuel treatment economics. In: Symposium on fire and California ecosystems: integrating ecology, prevention and management; 1997 November 17-20, San Diego, CA. (1,132 KB; 16 pages) [ PRI ] [ OCR ]

 

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Last Updated on Friday, 02 December 2011 11:54
 

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