A method for estimating the socioeconomic impact of Earth observations in wildland fire suppression decisions

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Vincent Herr ◽  
Adam K. Kochanski ◽  
Van V. Miller ◽  
Rich McCrea ◽  
Dan O'Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Break Line ◽  
Socioeconomic Impact ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Earth Observations ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Behaviour Simulation

A method for estimating the socioeconomic impact of Earth observations is proposed and deployed. The core of the method is the analysis of outcomes of hypothetical fire suppression scenarios generated using a coupled atmosphere–fire behaviour model, based on decisions made by an experienced wildfire incident management team with and without the benefits of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite observations and the WRF-SFIRE wildfire behaviour simulation system. The scenarios were based on New Mexico’s 2011 Las Conchas fire. For each scenario, fire break line location decisions served as inputs to the model, generating fire progression outcomes. Fire model output was integrated with a property database containing thousands of coordinates and property values and other asset values to estimate the total losses associated with each scenario. An attempt to estimate the socioeconomic impact of satellite and modelling data used during the decision-making process was made. We analysed the impact of Earth observations and include considerations for estimating other socioeconomic impacts.

The Impact of Residential Development Pattern on Wildland Fire Suppression Expenditures

2016 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Clark ◽  
Benjamin S. Rashford ◽  
Donald M. McLeod ◽  
Scott N. Lieske ◽  
Roger H. Coupal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Residential Development ◽  
Development Pattern ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Preceding Fall Drought Conditions and Overwinter Precipitation Effects on Spring Wildland Fire Activity in Canada

Fire ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Chelene Hanes ◽  
Mike Wotton ◽  
Douglas G. Woolford ◽  
David L. Martell ◽  
Mike Flannigan
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Area Burned ◽  
Fire Activity ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
The Impact

Spring fire activity has increased in parts of Canada, particularly in the west, prompting fire managers to seek indicators of potential activity before the fire season starts. The overwintering adjustment of the Canadian Fire Weather Index System’s Drought Code (DC) is a method to adjust and carry-over the previous season’s drought conditions into the spring and potentially point to what lies ahead. The occurrence of spring fires is most strongly influenced by moisture in fine fuels. We used a zero-inflated Poisson regression model to examine the impact of the previous end of season Drought Code (DCf) and overwinter precipitation (Pow) while accounting for the day-to-day variation in fine fuel moisture that drives ignition potential. Impacts of DCf and Pow on area burned and fire suppression effectiveness were also explored using linear and logistic regression frameworks. Eight fire management regions across the boreal forests were analyzed using data from 1979 to 2018. For the majority of regions, drier fall conditions resulted in more human-caused spring fires, but not in greater area burned or reduced suppression effectiveness. The influence of Pow was much more variable pointing to the conclusion that Pow alone is not a good indicator of spring drought conditions.

Factors affecting fire suppression costs as identified by incident management teams

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janie Canton-Thompson ◽  
Brooke Thompson ◽  
Krista Gebert ◽  
David Calkin ◽  
Geoff Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Management Teams ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Factors Affecting

Minimizing the cost of wildland fire suppression: a model with uncertainty in predicted flame length and fire-line width produced

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1253-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Mees ◽  
David Strauss ◽  
Richard Chase
Keyword(s):  
Line Width ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Expected Cost ◽  
Control Time ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Attack Strategy

We describe a model that estimates the optimal total expected cost of a wildland fire, given uncertainty in both flame length and fire-line width produced. In the model, a sequence of possible fire-line perimeters is specified, each with a forecasted control time. For a given control time and fire line, the probability of containment of the fire is determined as a function of the fire-fighting resources available. Our procedure assigns the resources to the fire line so as to minimize the total expected cost. A key feature of the model is that the probabilities reflect the degree of uncertainty in (i) the width of fire line that can be built with a given resource allocation, and (ii) the flame length of the fire. The total expected cost associated with a given choice of fire line is the sum of: the loss or gain of value of the area already burned; the cost of the resources used in the attack; and the expected loss or gain of value beyond the fire line. The latter is the product of the probability that the chosen attack strategy fails to contain the fire and the value of the additional burned area that would result from such a failure. The model allows comparison of the costs of the different choices of fire line, and thus identification of the optimal strategy. A small case study is used to illustrate the procedure.

Assessing the impact of seasonal precipitation and temperature on vegetation in a grass-dominated rangeland

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Chen ◽  
Keith T. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Precipitation And Temperature

Changes in vegetation are affected by many climatic factors and have been successfully monitored through satellite remote sensing over the past 20 years. In this study, the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra satellite, was selected as an indicator of change in vegetation. Monthly MODIS composite NDVI at a 1-km resolution was acquired throughout the 2004–09 growing seasons (i.e. April–September). Data describing daily precipitation and temperature, primary factors affecting vegetation growth in the semiarid rangelands of Idaho, were derived from the Surface Observation Gridding System and local weather station datasets. Inter-annual and seasonal fluctuations of precipitation and temperature were analysed and temporal relationships between monthly NDVI, precipitation and temperature were examined. Results indicated NDVI values observed in June and July were strongly correlated with accumulated precipitation (R2 >0.75), while NDVI values observed early in the growing season (May) as well as late in the growing season (August and September) were only moderately related with accumulated precipitation (R2 ≥0.45). The role of ambient temperature was also apparent, especially early in the growing season. Specifically, early growing-season temperatures appeared to significantly affect plant phenology and, consequently, correlations between NDVI and accumulated precipitation. It is concluded that precipitation during the growing season is a better predictor of NDVI than temperature but is interrelated with influences of temperature in parts of the growing season.

The wildland - urban interface fire problem - current approaches and research needs

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Mell ◽  
Samuel L. Manzello ◽  
Alexander Maranghides ◽  
David Butry ◽  
Ronald G. Rehm
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
The United States ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Wildland Urban Interface ◽  
Fuel Treatment ◽  
Treatment Techniques ◽  
Exposure Conditions

Wildfires that spread into wildland–urban interface (WUI) communities present significant challenges on several fronts. In the United States, the WUI accounts for a significant portion of wildland fire suppression and wildland fuel treatment costs. Methods to reduce structure losses are focussed on fuel treatments in either wildland fuels or residential fuels. There is a need for a well-characterised, systematic testing of these approaches across a range of community and structure types and fire conditions. Laboratory experiments, field measurements and fire behaviour models can be used to better determine the exposure conditions faced by communities and structures. The outcome of such an effort would be proven fuel treatment techniques for wildland and residential fuels, risk assessment strategies, economic cost analysis models, and test methods with representative exposure conditions for fire-resistant building designs and materials.

Dynamics of grazing rights and their impact on mobile cattle herders in Bhutan

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuenga Namgay ◽  
Joanne E. Millar ◽  
Rosemary S. Black
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Land Use Policies ◽  
Land Holdings ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Downstream Communities ◽  
The Impact

Seasonal cattle movements have been an important part of the living cultural heritage in Bhutan for centuries. Herders migrate south every winter to graze their cattle on subtropical pastures and to work in orange orchards. They return north to their villages in spring to grow summer crops. However, the practice of transhumant agropastoralism is under increasing pressure on account of changes in land-use policies, climate change and a declining labour force as youth seek alternative livelihoods. This research investigated the impact of changes in land-use policy, with emphasis on the Land Act 2007, on current and future livelihoods of transhumant herders in Bhutan. During in-depth interviews with 24 transhumant herders and nine livestock advisors, and seven focus-group discussions with 64 participants including herders, downstream residents and development agency personnel, perspectives on this issue were gathered. Findings revealed a lack of herder awareness of changes in land-use policies and minimal consultation of herders during policy development. Confusion and uncertainty about the proposed redistribution of grazing rights and restrictions on herd movements have resulted in confusion and resentment and have created conflicts between upstream and downstream communities. Herders with no current alternatives are concerned about their future livelihoods, whereas others are leaving it to their children to decide their future. It is concluded that the motive behind nationalisation of rangeland is noble and timely, but there are flaws in the redistribution plan. Transhumant agropastoralism is already in decline and there is no need to push towards its end through legislation. Transhumant practices could be left to evolve towards what may be their natural end. Sudden stoppage of inter-district transhumance without offering meaningful alternatives to herders could result in negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts. In future, policy development needs to increasingly embrace science and be based on evidence. A genuine participatory process with citizen engagement could avoid the unintended negative impacts likely to be faced by transhumant herders with marginal land holdings, who depend on this production system for their livelihoods.

scholarly journals Networks within networks: scaling response operations in the lightning complex fires in northern california, August 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 331 ◽  
pp. 04016
Author(s):  
K. Comfort Louise
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Northern California ◽  
California Department ◽  
Wildfire Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Large Sections

Wildfire risk has increased dramatically in California over more than two decades, 2000 - 2021, reflecting the intense impact of climate change on the state’s environmental and ecological systems. Most urgent is the impact of wildfire at the wildland-urban-interface (WUI), and the challenge to prevent cascading disaster for regions connected via interdependent lifelines of transportation, communications, electrical power, water, sewer, and gas line distribution systems that characterize geographic regions. To what extent do large, multi-organizational, multi-jurisdictional networks of organizations learn from experience and adapt their performance in response to the dynamic conditions of an actual extreme event? This article identifies four types of networks operating in the 2020 Lightning Complex Wildfires in northern California and documents the rapid escalation of risk and costs based on a preliminary analysis of the 209 incident reports filed by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) for the SCU Fire that engulfed large sections of five counties in the southeastern San Francisco Bay Region. The article concludes that Interagency Incident Management Networks provide essential intelligence to support local management of operations in the dynamic context of wildfire risk.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic impact of rice-cum-fish culture in a selected areas of Bangladesh

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-123
Author(s):  
M A Rahman ◽  
S Haque ◽  
P K Sarma
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Rice Yield ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Fish Culture ◽  
Socioeconomic Impact ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Human Labour ◽  
The Impact

The study examines the impact of the rice-cum-fish culture and the rice-mono culture on the rural households at  Muktaghachha upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 100 farmers of five villages  following stratified random sampling technique. Activity budgets were prepared and comparisons were made through the tabular and statistical analyses. Both the rice-cum-fish culture and the rice-mono culture were profitable business  for the farmers. However, farmers earned about 3 times higher profits from the rice-cum-fish culture than the ricemono culture. Per hectare net returns of the rice-cum-fish culture and the rice-mono culture were Tk. 15345.00 and  5389.50, respectively. Rice yield, fish consumption, total cost were increased by 11.4, 14.5 and 48.9 percent  respectively while human labour employment was increased by 9.4 percent in the integrated rice-cum-fish culture compared to the rice-mono culture. The study clearly hints that the rice-cum-fish culture provides greater scope for higher returns and employment opportunities of human labour than the rice-mono culture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v10i1.12103 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 10(1): 119–123, 2012

scholarly journals Impactos socioeconômicos do reassentamento de famílias pelo Promaben em Belém (PA) | Socioeconomic impact of families’ resettlement by Promaben in Belém, Pará

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (41) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aricarla Batista de Oliveira ◽  
Joana Valente Santana
Keyword(s):  
Field Research ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Socioeconomic Impact ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Water Rates ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

Este estudo analisa os impactos socioeconômicos na vida das famílias reassentadas no Residencial Antônio Vinagre pelo Programa de Saneamento da Bacia da Estrada Nova (Promaben), na cidade de Belém (PA). Com base no método dialético, a pesquisa contou com levantamento bibliográfico e documental, além de pesquisa de campo, a qual investigou 52 moradores reassentados para o referido residencial, correspondendo a 49,52% do total de famílias reassentadas. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam para a desarticulação nas estratégias de sobrevivência dos moradores, expressas nas variáveis:aumento de taxas de energia e água, aumento do custo de vidae perda das atividades de trabalho. Oreassentamento não alterou a condição de subalternidade do morador trabalhador, pois apenas a alteração do lugar de moradia dos trabalhadores não modifica sua condição de sobrevivência enquanto classe trabalhadora. Palavras-Chave: reassentamento de famílias; impactos socioeconômicos; desarticulação das estratégias de sobrevivência; Promaben.  Abstract– This study analyzes the socioeconomic impacts on the lives of families resettled at the Residencial Antônio Vinagre by the Estrada Nova River Basin Sanitation Program (Promaben), in the city of Belém, Pará. Based on the dialectical method, the research had a bibliographical and documentary survey, as well as field research, which investigated 52 residents resettled to the referred residential area, corresponding to 49.52% of the total resettled families. The results of the research point to the disarticulation in the survival strategies of the residents, expressed in the following variables: increase of power and water rates, increase in the cost of living, and loss of work activities. Resettlement did not change the status of subalternity of the working dweller, since only the change in the place of residence of workers does not modify their condition of survival as a working class. Keywords: resettlement of families; socioeconomic impacts; disruption of survival strategies; Promaben.

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