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.

Operation Features

FlamMap uses the same spatial and tabular data as FARSITE, enabling users to create spatial data layers once for use in multiple analyses. In addition to the usual menus, commands, and toolbar buttons FlamMap has a hierarchical tree interface that makes it easy to navigate through a fire behavior analysis.

Where FlamMap Fits In

FlamMap is part of a suite of fire behavior systems that includes BehavePlus, FARSITE, and FSPro. These are complementary systems that are based on essentially the same fire models. BehavePlus is a point system with input supplied interactively by the user. FlamMap, FARSITE, and FSPro are spatial systems that use the same base GIS data. 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.