Stand: Run FVS

The Select Stand: Run FVS form is used to run FVS/FFE-FVS from within ArcFuels. The Select Stand: Run FVS form consists of two tabs, FVS Inputs, and FVS Options.

The FVS Inputs tab of the Select Stand: Run FVS form is where the linkage between the stand shapefile and FVS database are set. Treatment prescriptions can also be selected by choosing keyword prescription (KCP) files, which outline fuel treatment prescriptions (such as thinning from below, pile burning, broadcast burning, etc.).

The FVS Input Sources section is where the stand shapefile and FVS database are linked.

The Stand Shapefile is the shapefile that corresponds to the FVS input database via the Stand ID Attribute field.
The FVS Input DB is the path to the FVS input database.
The Stand Table and Stand ID Field link the stand data and unique identification to the shapefile.
The Tree Table and Tree List ID Field link the tree data and unique identification to the shapefile..

Linkage between the stand polygon shapefile (A) and FVS stand table (FVS_StandInit) (B) and tree table (FVS_TreeInit) (C). Notice the stand identification (Stand_ID) number is the same for all three parts.

The Prescription Source(s) section is where the user can assign KCP files(s) to all the stands, or assign a prescription field to select stands using a specific field in the input FVS database.

KCP Files allows you to apply a KCP to every stand you run through the tool.
Prescription Fields links back the input FVS stand database, where multiple KCPs can be assigned to set stands to create different treatment alternatives. The KCP(s) will only be used if a stand is selected that has a prescription assigned.

The FVS Options tab of the Select Stand: Run FVS form is where the number of cycles and time steps for FVS runs and the fuel model set(s) that FFE-FVS will use are specified. Other hardwired options include the generation of a tree list for a specified year, a cut list, the ability to pause the FVS run at the end for debugging, and the option to override the FFE-FVS fuel model selections with others in the input database. Output options are also selected using this tab. Options include creating and opening Excel workbooks with or without graphics, writing files for use with NEXUS, and viewing outputs in SVS.

The top part of the form has the paths to the FVS Program and SVS Program executables. These are set using the Project Settings form.

The FVS Options section is where all of the FVS options are set up.

The number of Cycles and Years per cyclesets how many iterations will be run and the time step between iterations.
The Fuel Model Set tells FFE-FVS which of the desired fuel model sets to choose from: Anderson (13), Scott and Burgan (40) or both (53).
If you do not want FFE-FVS to select a fuel model for you, you have the option to override this process for three different time steps: pretreatment, post cut, and post fire.
- To overwrite the fuel models, the fields with the values must already be in the FVS input database. These are optional fields and are not part of the standard FVS input database format.
- Once the fuel model selection is overwritten it remains static until a new key word (post cut or post fire) is used, or until the end of the simulation in the case of no further cutting or burning action.
If you would like to Generate tree lists, you will need to specify when you want them output based on the year/cycle.
- Note that the treelist is create the year after you type into the text box.
After a cutting keyword you can Generate cut lists.
The FVS/FFE-FVS run can be paused prior to completion using the Add Pause in batch file. This can be helpful for troubleshooting errors.

The Output Folderis where the outputs will be saved. The default is the output folder specified when setting up a project in the Project Settings form.

The user has the option to view the results in SVS and/or generate an Excel workbook with or without graphs. These options are in addition to outputting the standard FVS output files.

The FVS Outputs to Produce/Display portion of the form is where the desired outputs are selected.

View Results in SVS opens the program to view your outputs.
An Excel spreadsheet can be created (Generate Spreadsheets) with or without graphs of key data (Generate Spreadsheet Graphs) and automatically opened (Open Spreadsheet).
After a FVS/FFE-FVS run it is possible to Generate Nexus Inputs for modeling, and the model inputs (wind speed, fuel moisture, etc.) can be updated with the Edit Default Inputs button.

A shortcut for opening the Mt. Emily Database exists in these forms. To open the database double-click on the file name.

Exercise 1—Running FVS/FFE-FVS and SVS for an untreated stand

A single stand will be run through FVS/FFE-FVS without any treatment prescriptions. The Mt. Emily project area stand polygon shapefile is draped over aerial imagery that relates to the FVS-ready database supplied with the demonstration data. The FVS-ready data can be critiqued by comparing the aerial imagery to the SVS graphics. Keep in mind the FVS data and SVS graphics are not location dependent (i.e., the trees are not stem mapped), meaning the spacing of the trees might not match what is on the ground in very clumpy stands.

The aerial imagery of stand selected (A), the FVS run window (B), and the SVS image (C) for stand 463.

Click the Stand button on the ArcFuels10 toolbar then select Select Stand: Run FVS from the drop-down list.

Select the FVS Inputs tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

Select the FVS Options tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

Click the OK button to close the form to apply and save your inputs for the tabs.

Return to ArcMap.

Zoom in and out of the Mt. Emily Project area and pan around to pick a stand.
Click on the Select Stand Tool button and click on a stand to execute a FVS /FFE-FVS run.

View the SVS image.

If your SVS window does not look like the figure above, you can change the settings in SVS (SVS options > Screen layouts > 0 3-view layout).

Click on as many stands as you would like, then close all the SVS windows.

If you would like to save your FVS settings (stand shapefile and database links), re-export the project settings. See Project: Export Settings if you are unsure how.

Exercise 2—Simulating a fuel treatment in FVS/FFE-FVS for a stand

A single stand will be run through FVS/FFE-FVS with a fuel treatment prescription that thins the stand, removes larger diameter surface fuels followed by a prescribed fire. To run fuel treatment prescriptions though FVS/FFE-FVS in ArcFuels10, they must be in a KCP. In addition to the SVS outputs this time, we will also have ArcFuels10 create an Excel workbook with graphs and open it.

Click the Stand button on the ArcFuels10 toolbar, then select Select Stand: Run FVS from the drop-down list.

Select the FVS Inputs tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

To add the Combo.kcp file, click the Add/Change Files button.

Select the Combo.kcp file.
- To select a KCP file, highlight it in the Available KCP files box and then click the Select File> button to move it over to the Selected KCP files box.
- To remove a KCP, highlight it in the Selected KCP files box, and then click the <Remove File button to move it over to the Available KCP files box.
Open the Combo.kcp file. To view a KCP file double-click on the name in any of the ArcFuels form boxes.

The first time you open a KCP file you might have to choose a program to open it with. Use any text editing program such as NotePad or WordPad.

The file calls for a species thinning preference (SpecPref), thin from below (ThinBBA), fuels mastication/site removal (FUELMOVE), prescribed fire (MOISTURE and SIMFIRE in 2004), and finally a wildfire (MOISTURE and SIMFIRE in 2007). Refer to the FVS Keyword Guide for detailed information on the keyword options.

The KCP can be edited and saved as the same file, or as a new name at this time. Pay attention when you save the file – Notepad and WordPad will add a *.txt extension if you save it as a text file, and this will cause problems later in FVS. If you saved the file under a new name, you will need to add the .kcp extension, but if you maintained the same name you are ready to proceed.

Close the KCP.
Click the OK button to close the Select KCP Files form.

It is possible to run multiple KCP files at once in ArcFuels10.

Many example KCP files have been supplied that can be edited and used with the demonstration data, or with your own data. For more information about building KCPs, see the supplementary FVS information.

Select the FVS Options tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

Click the OK button to close the form to apply and save your inputs for the tabs.

Return to ArcMap.

Zoom in and out of the Mt. Emily Project area and pan around to pick a stand.
Click on the Select Stand Tool button and click on a stand to execute a FVS /FFE-FVS run.
Page through the SVS images for each cycle by clicking the Next button on the bottom right of the SVS window to see the thin, surface fuel treatment, and prescribed fire.

SVS images from the different steps of the Combo.kcp treatment sequence for stand 463.

Close the SVS window .

Go to the Excel workbook. The workbook has multiple spreadsheets, some with graphs of the FVS outputs. The table below lists all the spreadsheets with short descriptions. For more information, including units for all tables, see the FVS Web site.

FVS/FFE-FVS outputs are written to an Excel workbook in ArcFuels10. This table lists all the spreadsheets within the workbook.

Spreadsheet name	Description
FVS_Cases	Information about the stand and the run you completed
FVS_StrClass	Stand structure class by stratum
FVS_PotFire	Potential fire behavior, fire effects, and fuel models
FVS_Fuels	Fuel loading and consumption
FVS_Carbon	Above- and below-ground live and dead carbon loading
FVS_Hrv_Carbon	Harvested carbon products, energy, and emissions
FVS_CutList	The cutlist for trees removed during silvicultural activities such as a thin (only produced when a thinning activity is initiated)
FVS_BurnReport	Fuel moistures and resulting fire behavior (only produced when a fire is simulated)
FVS_Consumption	Consumption of all fuel types (only produced when a fire is simulated)
FVS_Mortality	Mortality by size class and species (only produced when a fire is simulated)
FVS_TreeList	The treelist for trees the year after specified in the form
FVS_Summary	Stand characteristics
FVS_Compute	Canopy characteristics used for fire modeling and flame length, and any additional information modeled using the “COMPUTE” keyword in a KCP.

Select the FVS_Fuels worksheet. Notice how the treatments affected the surface litter fuel load (ton/ac). Some treatment effects are not shown until the next growing cycle in FVS. In this example, that is true for the fuel move and prescribed fire.

FVS_Fuels worksheet and graphs for litter load (ton/ac), stand 463.

Look at the other worksheets and graphs.
Close the Excel workbook.

If you forget to close the Excel workbook and try and re-run the same stand, you will get a warning message. You must close the workbook and try again.

Exercise 3—Using FVS/FFE-FVS to create NEXUS input files

You will create NEXUS input files by using FVS/FVS-FFE to process stands. This exercise will not explain how to run NEXUS; please refer to the NEXUS Web page for information.

Click the Stand button on the ArcFuels10 toolbar, then select Select Stand: Run FVS from the drop-down list.

Select the FVS Inputs tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

Select the FVS Options tab, fill out the form following the figure below.

When the Nexus Inputs form opens, fill out the form following the figure below.

Click Continue to return to the FVS Options tab.

Click OK to close the form, and to apply and save your inputs.

Return to ArcMap.

Zoom in and out of the Mt. Emily Project area and pan around to pick a stand.
Click on the Select Stand Tool button and click on a stand to execute a FVS /FFE-FVS run.

Look at the NEXUS run inputs. Only the first year of the FVS/FFE-FVS run will be loaded into NEXUS. To load different years open the file(s) in NEXUS.

Close NEXUS.

To avoid having the Nexus Input form open every time you open the Select Stand forms, open the Select Stand: Run FVS form, and uncheck the Generate Nexus Inputs option.

All of the NEXUS files are written to the outputs folder for all years run in FVS (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 for this simulation). They are saved as *.scn files with a naming convention of: stand number_year. For example, the NEXUS input file for stand 794 for 2005 is named 794_2005.scn.

To continue to the next section go to Select Stand: FVS Treatment Analysis.