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Text Box: Click for Final Project Report
 


WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

FOR TAOS COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO

Text Box: Introduction Wildfires incidents are increasing more and more over the years and they are becoming more severe. The increasing temperatures and dry conditions from global warming are creating the necessary conditions for severe wildfires. In addition, we are experiencing a considerable increase in population that has moved urban development into forest areas increasing the ignition risk from humans. Assessing the risk of a wildfire occurring in a specific location can help authorities mitigate the risk and in the case it occurs, respond faster and better prepared. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are increasing in use because of their ability to represent spatially distributed data with a high degree of accuracy and making it easier to identify trends. Within Wildfire management, GIS has been found to be a very helpful tool when integrated with other programs and/or technologies such as GPS and Remote Sensing, Fire Area Simulator (FARSITE) and FlamMap. The results from the analysis can assist agencies in recognizing areas at risk, educating communities, managing real-time response and most importantly, saving lives.

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Text Box: Objectives Get acquainted with wildfires terminology and the basic concepts to build a wildfires risk assessment (WRA) in GIS. Identify areas in Taos, New Mexico where conditions are more prone to wildfire occurrence by preparing a WRA.

Text Box: AREA OF STUDY

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CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS

DATA SOURCE          RANKING CRITERIA       METHODOLOGY       RESULTS

 

Text Box: Conclusions The use of GIS for WRA is not a new concept. Many states such as New Mexico, Virginia and Florida have implanted GIS analysis to properly manage wildfire risks. My intentions were to familiarize with wildfire concepts and understand how GIS could be support fire risk analysis and at the end of the project I met my expectations. For future work I am really interested in integrating BIM for assets management before, during and after a fire. Also, I would like to understand how these tools can help predict fire behavior.

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References

1.    ESRI (2011). GIS Technology: Supporting the Wildfire Mission. Esri White paper (9) (http://www.esri.com/industries/public-safety/wildland-fire-management)

2.    Calkin, D. E., Thompson, M. P., Finney, M. A., & Hyde, K. D. (2011). A real-time risk assessment tool supporting wildland fire decision-making. Journal of Forestry, 109(5), 274-280.

3.    Rothermel, R. C. (1983). How to predict the spread and intensity of forest and range fires (p. 161). Ogden, UT, USA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

4.    Scott, J. H., & Burgan, R. E. (2005). Standard fire behavior fuel models: a comprehensive set for use with Rothermel's surface fire spread model. The Bark Beetles, Fuels, and Fire Bibliography, 66.

 

Websites:

·       ArcGIS Resources- http://resources.arcgis.com

·       New Mexico Resource Geographic Information System Program (RGIS)- http://rgis.unm.edu

·       The Virginia Department of Forestry- http://www.dof.virginia.gov/stforest/index.htm

 

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