a “Forest Model Archive” (FMA) Professor Keith Rennolls University of Greenwich Dep. Coordinator IUFRO (Informatics, Modelling & Statistics) Prepared for FP0603 WP1 : “the Forest Models of Europe”

Archive = Database= Register? Considerable overlap, Considerable overlap, but some major differences. but some major differences. Cost FP0603 lists as an aim the setting up of a European Forest Models Register. Q1. What is meant by this? Q2. Is this really what we want? Q3. What do we want? Suggestion: we should focus on “uses” and users” in answering Q3.

Some recent history Around 1997 (and maybe much earlier) the EU ratified an initiative to harmonize European forest inventory systems (EFICS) Around 1997 (and maybe much earlier) the EU ratified an initiative to harmonize European forest inventory systems (EFICS) Aim: to make pan-European planning more efficient and effective. Aim: to make pan-European planning more efficient and effective. Around 2000 IUFRO announced the Global Forest Information System (GFIS) (2000-now) Around 2000 IUFRO announced the Global Forest Information System (GFIS) (2000-now) Also in about 2000 the European Forest Information System (EFIS) was set up, as the European Node of GFIS.( ) Also in about 2000 the European Forest Information System (EFIS) was set up, as the European Node of GFIS.( ) GFIS was really a notice-board, “cataloguing” global forest information resource objects. -very much a librarian view of a FIS. -very much a librarian view of a FIS. EFIS was really a demonstrator of a GIS-based inventory linked software package. Note: EFIS was not consistent as a subsystem of GFIS.

NEFIS NEFIS (Network of European Forest Information Systems) ( ) NEFIS (Network of European Forest Information Systems) ( ) Son of EFIS Son of EFIS Aim: to extend EFIS to realize the 1997 aims Aim: to extend EFIS to realize the 1997 aims Result: Result: considered the problems, and overcame some considered the problems, and overcame some Suggested some design features Suggested some design features Main Problems: Main Problems: Unwillingness to share data on an information system Unwillingness to share data on an information system The incommensurability of many EU forest mensurational systems (terms: forest; volume; site-index;…) The incommensurability of many EU forest mensurational systems (terms: forest; volume; site-index;…)

Some NEFIS papers Requirements and Design of an Integrated European Environmental Information Communication System, (IEEICS) Models and Tools for an Integrated European Environmental Management and Decision Support System, (IEEMDSS) A Partial Ontology for Forest Inventory and Mensuration An Architectural Design for a Forest Information and Communications Portal (FICP) pdf pdf pdf

FIS and Models FIS concerned with: FIS concerned with: A catalogue (register) of forest information sources A catalogue (register) of forest information sources Wide ranging general information and knowledge about forests, Wide ranging general information and knowledge about forests, But to a much lesser extent, it seems, with forest data: But to a much lesser extent, it seems, with forest data: Sample plot databases Sample plot databases Forest Inventory data …etc.. Forest Inventory data …etc.. RS imagery RS imagery These seem to have their own “homes” What about models? What about models?

Forest Models Forest Models are: mathematical/algorithmic representations which describe, summarise, or explain the way trees and forests change (or, more correctly, the data relating to these) See the recently circulated papers

IUFRO 4.11 Greenwich, 2001 Forest Biometry, Modelling and Information Science (FBMIS) The FBMIS Proceedings The First IUFRO 4.11 web-proceedings The First IUFRO 4.11 web-proceedings The First IUFRO 4.11 web-proceedings The First IUFRO 4.11 web-proceedings Systems for Forest Information Conservation and Sharing Risto Paivinen, Tim Richards, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Richard Wood, Margherita Sini (Invited paper) The IUFRO Global Forest Information Service The IUFRO Global Forest Information Service The IUFRO Global Forest Information Service Towards a Common Resource. Patrick D. Miles. USDA FS, St. Paul. Information Systems for the Forest Resource Analyst. Information Systems for the Forest Resource Analyst Information Systems for the Forest Resource Analyst Nell Baker and Howard Wright. University of Oxford The UK Archive of Tropical Forest Inventory The UK Archive of Tropical Forest Inventory The UK Archive of Tropical Forest Inventory (ATROFI): conserving the data. (ATROFI): conserving the data. Keith Rennolls, Moh Ibrahim and Peter Smith. University of Greenwich. A Forest Model Archive? A Forest Model Archive? A Forest Model Archive?

The Forest Model Archive (FMA) ( The Full FMA Standards Specification The Full FMA Standards Specification The resources associated with a fully documented model in FMA are expected to include the following as the adopted STANDARD: A description of the theory of the model A description of the theory of the model A listing of the code for the model algorithm A listing of the code for the model algorithm The fitting criterion used The fitting criterion used The fitting algorithm used The fitting algorithm used Test data, with metadata Test data, with metadata The results of fitting the model to the test data using the fitting algorithm The results of fitting the model to the test data using the fitting algorithm The emphasis is on re-use of “forest models” The emphasis is on re-use of “forest models” “A new way to publish models” “A new way to publish models”

The FMA Aims To Conserve Forest Models To Conserve Forest Models To Enable easy re-use of Forest Models To Enable easy re-use of Forest Models Even for non-experts Even for non-experts Especially for the Developing World Especially for the Developing World A latter-day Stat-forms? A latter-day Stat-forms? To Foster new forest model development To Foster new forest model development Particularly for Tropical Forests Particularly for Tropical Forests For Remote-Sensing based Inventories For Remote-Sensing based Inventories To Allow easy comparison of Models To Allow easy comparison of Models On standard datasets On standard datasets On new datasets On new datasets To Facilitate the building of new Hybrid models from previous models To Facilitate the building of new Hybrid models from previous models To Engender international forest modelling collaboration To Engender international forest modelling collaboration

FMA “Challenges” Modellers prefer to model rather than re-use another modeller’s model. Modellers prefer to model rather than re-use another modeller’s model. There is no kudos in re-use There is no kudos in re-use Many of the established BIG Models have their own well supported web sites Many of the established BIG Models have their own well supported web sites FMA building is time-consuming and needs funding … FMA building is time-consuming and needs funding … See next slide See next slide An “Archive” might possibly be regarded as merely a repository of “dead models”, and not the place for new and developing models. An “Archive” might possibly be regarded as merely a repository of “dead models”, and not the place for new and developing models. Something is needed in addition to indicate that the FMA is “State of the Art” (See FBMIS below) Something is needed in addition to indicate that the FMA is “State of the Art” (See FBMIS below)

FMA??? A proposal for a FMA project was submitted to the EU in 2005, (but, not successful) FIS/Papers/PartB-Global-3_SSA_FMA1.pdf A proposal for a FMA project was submitted to the EU in 2005, (but, not successful) FIS/Papers/PartB-Global-3_SSA_FMA1.pdf FIS/Papers/PartB-Global-3_SSA_FMA1.pdf FIS/Papers/PartB-Global-3_SSA_FMA1.pdf

the other side of the “Archive”: FBMIS: the e-journal FBMIS: FBMIS ‘Parents’ of FBMIS: ‘Parents’ of FBMIS: Absence of a Specialized Forest Biometrics and Modelling publication outlet Absence of a Specialized Forest Biometrics and Modelling publication outlet The FBMIS Conference Proceedings The FBMIS Conference Proceedings All the “Black-Hole” Proceedings of the past All the “Black-Hole” Proceedings of the past The FMA The FMA

Some new and relevant history: COST E43 ( ) Harmonization of National Forest Inventories in Europe: Techniques for Common Reporting WG1: Harmonised definitions and measuring practices. WG1: Harmonised definitions and measuring practices. WG1: Harmonised definitions and measuring practices. WG1: Harmonised definitions and measuring practices. WG2: Harmonised estimation procedures for carbon pools and carbon pool changes. WG2: Harmonised estimation procedures for carbon pools and carbon pool changes. WG2: Harmonised estimation procedures for carbon pools and carbon pool changes. WG2: Harmonised estimation procedures for carbon pools and carbon pool changes. WG3: Harmonised indicators and estimation procedures for assessing components of biodiversity with NFI data. WG3: Harmonised indicators and estimation procedures for assessing components of biodiversity with NFI data. WG3: Harmonised indicators and estimation procedures for assessing components of biodiversity with NFI data. WG3: Harmonised indicators and estimation procedures for assessing components of biodiversity with NFI data. Aims: Cooperate …Promote active and open dialogue… Assess methods for reporting… Identify research needs for joint projects…

What do we want to do? What will be the uses of the product? Model Register/Catalogue… Model Register/Catalogue… Shares model metadata, and promotes cooperation, leading onto… Shares model metadata, and promotes cooperation, leading onto… Database of Models Database of Models Shares detailed models as well as metadata Shares detailed models as well as metadata Uses?: EU integration or harmonization? Uses?: EU integration or harmonization? An FMA An FMA To encourage reuse of model methodology To encourage reuse of model methodology