Firemodels.org - Introduction

Introduction

Overview

The FlamMap fire mapping and analysis system (Finney 2006; Stratton 2006) is a PC-based program that describes potential fire behavior for constant environmental conditions (weather and fuel moisture). Fire behavior is calculated for each pixel within the landscape file independently, so FlamMap does not calculate fire spread across a landscape. Potential fire behavior calculations include surface fire spread (Rothermel 1972), crown fire initiation (Van Wagner 1977), and crown fire spread (Rothermel 1991). Dead fuel moisture is calculated using the Nelson model (Nelson 2000) and FlamMap permits conditioning of dead fuels in each pixel based on slope, shading, elevation, aspect, and weather.

Because environmental conditions remain constant, FlamMap will not simulate temporal variations in fire behavior caused by weather and diurnal fluctuations as FARSITE does. Nor will it display spatial variations caused by backing or flanking fire behavior. These limitations need to be considered when viewing FlamMap output in an absolute rather than relative sense. However, outputs are well-suited for landscape level comparisons of fuel treatment effectiveness because fuel is the only variable that changes. Outputs and comparisons can be used to identify combinations of hazardous fuel and topography, aiding in prioritizing fuel treatments.

Screenshots

Using FlamMap is different from most Windows^® applications. In addition to utilizing menus, commands, and toolbar buttons, FlamMap uses an expanding tree structure and context menus in the left hand pane of the project window to guide you through your work.

Credits and Acknowledgments

FlamMap is being developed by:

U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program, and
Systems for Environmental Management (SEM).

FlamMap Sponsor Logos Funding and support for development of FlamMap has been provided by:

Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP),
U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program,
Systems for Environmental Management (SEM), and
U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Wildland Fire Research Development and Applications.

The following individuals are working on components of the FlamMap project:

Mark Finney, U.S. Forest Service, is the project lead and is responsible for program design.
Stuart Brittain, Systems for Environmental Management, is responsible for program development.
Chuck McHugh, U.S. Forest Service, conducts program testing and provides online support.
Rob Seli, U.S. Forest Service, conducts program testing and developed the online help system.
Rick Stratton, Systems for Environmental Management, conducts program testing.

Software technical support is provided by U.S. Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management, National Systems Support Group, Boise, ID, as listed on the Contact Us page.

Publications

The publications on this page describe the FlamMap fire mapping and analysis system and its use in simulating fuel treatments. More information on the fire models that form the basis of FlamMap can be found on the BehavePlus Publications page.