1. Vegetation Mapping using MSN Analysis in INFORMS
INtegrated FORest Management System
MSN
Most Similar Neighbor Analysis

2. Overview
Use MSN to create a current wall to wall vegetation layer utilizing NRIS FSVeg, DEM and Landsat data.
Utilize the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to grow stand data to current and future year conditions.
Create alternatives and model vegetation treatments (i.e. thinning) for NEPA analysis and impacts evaluation.

3. Definitions NRIS INFORMS A project-level landscape analysis framework.
Most Similar Neighbor (MSN)
A powerful application used to impute available ground-based inventory data to non-inventoried units.
NRIS FSVeg
Forest Service Field-Sampled Vegetation database.
Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS)
An individual-tree, distance-independent growth and yield model.
Websites:
FVS –
MSN -

4. What is Most Similar Neighbor (MSN)?
The MSN application is a powerful tool used to impute available ground-based inventory data to non- inventoried units.
The MSN method uses available data from the ground- based sample units and globally available data measured on all sample units to guide the imputation.
Examples of global information for all sample units include topographic data and satellite imagery.
Landscape of vegetation data is available for analysis based on imputations from the MSN process.

5. MSN Calibration
Most Similar Neighbor analysis command files are prepared and tested for each FVS variant. Calibration (selection of variables) is the most critical part of Most Similar Neighbor analysis.
Variables contained in the command files are carefully selected in cooperation with the researchers who developed the Most Similar Neighbor application and methods.
Once calibrated, there is a standardized methodology for each FVS variant.
Notes for bullet points:
MSN command files are specific files identifying the correct attributes for MSN use in creating imputations. We change them to be specific to each FVS variant (hence calibration to each FVS variant). Selection of attributes is the most critical part of Most Similar Neighbor Analysis.
There are multiple FVS variants for many regions, some only having one.
The best attributes are continuous variables.

6. MSN Calibration Variables
Calibration is the process of finding the correct combination of global and sampled data for each FVS variant.
Global Data = Data that is available for all polygons (i.e. slope, aspect, Landsat, etc.).
Sampled Data = Data that is available for sampled polygons (i.e. stand exams) or other vegetation sampling (i.e. range data, fuels plots). Examples include Basal Area, Trees per Acre, QMD, Volumes, etc.

7. Where MSN is calibrated by FVS Variant
This shows the order Fuels and Fire Extension by variant will be available to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS).
This critical component need for this fuels reduction analysis.
FMSC Slide.
Completed
Not Done Yet

8. Forests Mapped with MSN

9. MSN Mapping Status by National Forest
Forests Completed
Forests In Progress
Region 1
Idaho Panhandle
Region 3
Lincoln
Carson
Gila
Coconino
Kaibab
Apache- Sitgreaves 2 districts
Region 6
Malheur
Umatilla
Wallowa- Whitman 2 districts
Deschutes 2 districts
Siuslaw 1 district
Region 1
Nez-Perce
Region 2
Shoshone
Region 3
Santa-Fe
Cibola
Corrinodo
Tonto
Updated: 12/2006

10. Data Requirements Populated NRIS FSVeg database.
Non-forested survey data (i.e. rangeland data).
Local Vegetation coverage which is related to the FSVeg data.
DEM derived grids for Slope (in radians), Slope Catchment Area, Insulation and Duration.
Landsat grids for reflectance values for bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.
These data requirements are for using MSN within INFORMS.

11. Vegetation Grouping
Most Similar Neighbor analysis is run separately on Forested and Non-Forested polygons.
Vegetation polygons must be divided into three groups by the local GIS shop by adding an attribute into the local stands layer:
Forested Vegetation (FV)
Non-Forested Vegetation (NF)
Non-Vegetated (NV)

12. Preparing Global and Sampled Data in INFORMS
Global Data Preparation Tool: Summarizes data from the DEM and Landsat Scene into an input format for Most Similar Neighbor analysis.
Sampled Data Preparation Tool for Forested Polygons: Grows all stand data forward to the year of the Landsat scene to calibrate stand data to the current condition using FVS.
Sampled Data Preparation Tool for Non-Forested Polygons: Data is currently used to impute Fuel Models and other light fuel vegetative data (described in the next series of slides).
This is done via ‘tools’ in the INFORMS application.

13. Non-Forest Data Preparation
Fuels data is being loaded into the FSVeg database.
Summary cover by lifeform (grass, forbs, shrubs, trees).
Non-Forest fuels transects as defined by Texas A&M process (described in the next few slides). (Texas A&M BRASS-G website also utilizes this data.)
This data is modeled using the Phygrow growth simulator.

14. BRASS-G Website http://brass.tamu.edu/
BRASS-G: Burning Risk Advisory Supporting System for Grazinglands.
BRASS-G is maintained by Texas A&M University.
BRASS-G presents an interactive map interface to non- forested vegetation polygons.
Polygons are populated using the Most Similar Neighbor process.
Burning conditions are updated daily.
Every imputed stand has its own unique vegetation modeled using localized weather using Phygrow.

15. Navigation Map for BRASS-G (Lincoln NF – New Mexico)
Polygon shading represents maximum 30-minute burn area predicted for the next week.
By double-clicking on a polygon, current burning condition graphs will be displayed.

16. BRASS-G: Low 30-minute burn spread
These graphs represent:
30-minute burn area
Spread rate
Flame length
Fuel Moistures
Weather variables
The prediction points are graphed in 3-hour increments.
The weather is based on 2.5km grids from NOAA.

17. BRASS-G: High 30-minute burn spread
This is based on the actual vegetation grown to this point in time. This is based on weather and soil inputs.
2-3 years of previous daily weather variables are used to grow the plants to their current condition. This is done primarily using soil water budgets.

18. BRASS-G: Imputed area photos
This is a photo taken during sampling.
Imputed stands have a photo from the reference stand associated with the record.
Click the photo link to see an sample photo of the area.

19. BRASS-G: Imputed area photos
This is a photo taken during sampling.
Imputed stands have a photo from the reference stand associated with the record.

20. Running MSN
MSN is run as a tool in INFORMS once all of the data is prepared.
‘Go/no go’ statistics are presented when MSN is run. This advises the user whether the MSN run should be used for further analysis.
Statistics are also produced for specific vegetation attributes resulting from the MSN run. (e.g. basal area, stand height, etc.)
Bullet point notes:
MSN can be run without INFORMS. In this process, MSN is run inside INFORMS.

21. MSN Results
The NRIS FSVeg database contains a table, NRV_MSN_FOR_USE, that stores the MSN results.
This table contains a list of links of un-sampled stand polygons pointing them to their ‘most similar neighbor’ with sampled data.
This process allows INFORMS tools to use imputed data without loading hypothetical data into the corporate FSVeg stand and tree tables.
Bullet Point 3: Data is not loaded….

22. MSN Report for Forested Vegetation
Produced with each MSN run is the MSN Report. It is a text file summarizing the key elements of the MSN run. These are the attributes in the vegetation map.

23. MSN Forest Vegetation Quality
This is presented so the user can understand the quality of each individual stand imputation according to the statistics within MSN.
Gray = Reference (sampled) stands
Green = OK Quality (Imputed)
Red = Poor Quality (Imputed)
Yellow = Non-Veg (rocks, lakes, etc.)
Brown = Non-Forest (grass, shrubs, etc.)

24. Reference Stands NRV_MSN_FOR_USE Reference Stands
Stands with sampled data.
Note: FOR_GIS_LINK and USE1_GIS_LINK are the same.

25. Imputed Stands NRV_MSN_FOR_USE Imputed Stands
Stands that have not been sampled.
Note: FOR_GIS_LINK and USE1_GIS_LINK are different.
USE1_GIS_LINK is the best match.

26. Imputed MSN Stands Red = MSN Imputed Stands Blue = FSVeg Stand Exams
Yellow = No Data

27. How does MSN help you?
Provides a method to easily maintain and annually update a current vegetation layer.
Provides a current wall-to-wall vegetation layer containing base-scale attributes.
Allows a site to grow the current vegetation layer forward into the future using FVS for analysis of future conditions. Some examples are:
Current and Future Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC)
Current and Future Vegetative Structural Stage (VSS)
Current and Future individual stand burning conditions
Allows for modeling of treatments to the vegetation layer for NEPA analysis and impacts evaluation.

28. Vegetation Layer
The results from FVS and MSN are used to generate current and future vegetation layers for each decade in the simulation.
Fuel Model – Same Year
Without MSN
With MSN
If the tool is run in INFORMS, these layers are created.

29. Base FVS Vegetation Layer
A wall-to-wall base vegetation layer is built for each decade in the simulation. This layer contains information such as basal area, stand height, qmd, canopy cover and more.

30. MSN Accuracy Assessment
An accuracy assessment methodology exists for MSN as used in INFORMS. Cooperators were:
Natural Resource Information System (NRIS)
Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS)
Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)
Plans are to complete an accuracy assessment on the following forests:
Carson National Forest (Region 3)
Deschutes National Forest (Region 6)
After several assessments are complete, this should provide a standard by which to evaluate and improve base vegetation layer maps.

31. Alternative Building in INFORMS
Vegetative future conditions are created by defining alternatives and applying vegetative treatment prescriptions.
There are three methods for applying prescriptions to a stand or a portion of a stand. A tool is available to split a stand.
If MSN analysis is used, prescriptions can be applied to imputed stands (stands which do not have a stand exam in FSVeg).
Treatments are applied through FVS keyword files. This changes future condition vegetative values.

32. Prescription Assignment
You can point and click on a stand in the ArcView map.

33. Prescription Assignment: View Results
You can overlay a map with codes

34. Basal Area Before and After Treatment – Same Year
Fuels Reduction Thinning Treatment
No Treatment

35. Summary
INFORMS and MSN currently provide a methodology for vegetative treatments and fuels analysis.
INFORMS provides the ability to produce multiple alternatives for various treatment scenarios.
MSN provides the ability to do landscape-level fuels analysis (i.e. fire spread).
Several MSN accuracy assessments are currently being completed to provide ID teams with more defensible results.

36. For More Information Steve Williams/Eric Twombly – Project Leads
Lynne Bridgford – Developer
Jonathan Marston – Developer
Web: fsweb.nris.fs.fed.us/products/INFORMS