F-Planner: A geographic information system and simulation model integrated site-specific forest management system

Site-specific planning is an increasingly important component of contemporary forest management. An economic analysis using the same average unit revenues and costs for all stands of a specified type throughout an entire forest is often not precise enough. In addition, clear cut regulations promulgated by the federal government and many states make in-place management unit information and definition of stand types necessary when scheduling harvest activities.;In this study, a GIS and simulation models were integrated into a site-specific forest management system called F-Planner. Since a loosely-coupled integration (through files) technique was used, developing data preprocessing and application programs were the major tasks. Specifically, a data preprocessing program, DATA IMPORTER, and two application programs, SIMULATOR and HARVEST SCHEDULER, were developed.;DATA IMPORTER reformats GIS files and/or generates the required information from these files for the two application programs. It can import spatial coordinates, attributes and the topological relations of the management units.;SIMULATOR is an interactive simulation program for predicting the growth and development of forest stands in response to management (harvesting and silviculture) strategies. Utilizing the spatial and attribute data imported through DATA IMPORTER from a GIS database, SIMULATOR allows the planner not only to visualize each stand's geographic location and geometric shape, but also to query site-specific information. This combination of abilities allows management decisions to be made in a spatial context with knowledge of stand attributes.;HARVEST SCHEDULER is designed for scheduling harvest activities under spatial and temporal constraints for both roaded and roadless scenarios. Using a Monte-Carlo random search approach, this simulation model generates feasible harvest plan alternatives from which the user may select the most desirable. HARVEST SCHEDULER also allows the user to choose different management objectives.;Coded in C++, F-Planner's programs run under Microsoft Windows with graphic aids and a user-friendly interface.;The framework of the system provides a foundation for further development. Algorithm improvement, additional application program development and software tune-up will make this system even more effective.