2. EXPECTATIONS -FS Training course for FARSITE is 60hrs long. -It's own software separate from ArcGIS with it's own quirks and limitations. -Two week lab

3. HISTORY -Part of the Systems for Environmental Management (SEM) -Founded 1977 in Missoula, MT -Work in cooperation with BLM,FWS, NPS, BIA and the Fire Sciences Laboratory of the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station - Mark Finney (program design & development) -Rob Seli (program testing & online help system)

4. -A fire growth simulation model. It uses spatial information on topography and fuels along with weather and wind files. -incorporates existing models for surface fire, crown fire, spotting, post-frontal combustion, and fire acceleration into a 2-dimensional fire growth model. -users must have the support of a geographic information system (GIS) to use FARSITE because it requires spatial landscape information to run.. What is FARSITE?

5. What does FARSITE do? -Computes wildfire growth and behavior for long time periods under heterogeneous conditions of terrain, fuels, and weather. - Uses existing fire behavior models for surface and crown fires, post- frontal combustion, and fuel moisture. -It is a deterministic model, meaning that you can relate simulation results directly to your inputs. -Produces outputs that are compatible with PC and Workstation graphics and GIS software for later analysis and display. -Can be used for fire gaming, asking multiple "what-if" questions and comparing the results. -Accepts both GRASS and ARC/INFO GIS raster data themes.

6. FARSITE GIS Data Requirements Required: Raster map layers are required for: * elevation * slope * aspect * surface fuel model * canopy cover Optional raster themes for simulating spotting and crown fire include: * canopy height * crown base height * crown bulk density Optional raster themes for simulating post-frontal combustion (smoldering and flame behind front) are: * coarse woody fuels * duff loading

8. http://landfire.cr.usgs.gov/viewer/viewer.htm

9. Basic Requirements: In order to properly run a FARSITE simulation, five required inputs or steps must be created and completed. These requirements are as follows: a) - landscape file (.lcp) b) - project file (.fpj) c) - fire/model parameters d) – duration parameters e) - ignition point

14. PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS - Courseness of Data. Microclimatic variability hard to represent (even harder to acquire data for)...thus FARSITE overpredicts - Generalizes and makes assumptions - Actions are typically made on 12-24hr. Fire behaviors. Minute but minutes is unrealistic/unlikely. -Handling winds in complex terrain

15. http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/fire- ecology.html http://www.fire.org FARSITE Help Section GET MORE INFO!