REGIONAL WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

Fuels Mapping—Integrating Multi-Resolution Imagery
to Derive Surface Fuel Models

Sanborn is recognized as an industry leader in landcover mapping, image classification and accuracy assessment for government agencies and private industry. Sanborn’s WFRAS methodology supports a multi-scale approach for mapping fuels at the Wildland, Urban Interface and Urban levels. Wildland fuels are mapped using Landsat™ imagery (30 meters) as a baseline. Optionally, high-resolution multispectral imagery, such as IKONOS®, can be used to map Urban Interface and Urban fuels at 4 meters, and 1-meter resolution or less.

The enhanced spatial mapping resolution of fuels in the Urban Interface affords better delineation of urban and property features. Both aerial and satellite data acquisition options are available depending on the resolution and geographic extent of the assessment.

Wildland Fire Risk Modeling

The heart of WFRAS offering is the Wildland Fire Risk Model. Leading fire subject-matter experts and Sanborn developers built the risk model to reflect the best wildland fire science available for fire protection planning. The model is customized with a comprehensive GIS database, built specifically for the client, with calculations to derive indices of Wildland Fire Susceptibility, Fire Effects, Fire Response Accessibility and Wildland Fire Risk.

The WFRAS risk assessment model is customized with a comprehensive GIS database. This includes data components for fire occurrence, fire behavior potential, suppression effectiveness, fire effects and accessibility. The model is used to derive all key output, as well as the indices. The interface allows users to evaluate input layers to derive new results based on modified input data. This approach allows the user to generate new results as conditions change and mitigation options are evaluated.

Advanced Fuel Profile Modeling

This temporal modeling capability allows the fire planner to estimate the effect of fuel treatments on fire risk for several years, not just the year of initial fuel treatment. Planners can analyze the effectiveness of fuels treatment measures and estimate the change expected in a specific fuel model following a fuel treatment for a defined period of time.

By applying temporal fuel profiles, developed in collaboration with Sanborn’s subject matter experts, the fire management planner can analyze the effectiveness of fuels treatment measures over time, by estimating the change expected in the surface fuel model following treatment for each year in a successive time period (typically 10-20 years but may vary depending on characteristics of the geographic area). The fire manager can use this tool to identify an area of interest on the fuels layer and modify the fuels based on local knowledge or pre-defined expert knowledge, reflected in the custom fuel profiles.

Once modified, the updated fuels can be used to recreate the Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index and the Wildland Fire Risk Index following a fuels treatment, such as prescribed burning, piling, herbicide, etc., for any year desired. This capability also helps the fire planner justify future fuels management activities and budgeting in support of future funding.

Distributing Assessment Results with Public Information Access Tools

The ability to share data and results of a wildland fire risk assessment with other agencies, and especially the public, is increasingly important. Our suite of Public Information Access Tools focuses on communicating wildland fire risk concerns through interactive mapping websites as they offer an interface for downloading project datasets, or simply viewing map results through interactive Internet mapping services built using ESRI’s ArcIMS software. A standard web mapping application can easily be customized to provide query access to assessment results online. For more information about web-based data delivery options, visit the GIS Services page and click on the GEOPORTALS link.

Leveraging Proven Domain Expertise and Technical Approaches to Develop Custom Solutions

The Sanborn approach is based on applying proven methods for conducting wildland fire risk assessments, along with world-class subject-matter expertise in fuels and fire management. Our technical and domain expertise is unparalleled in the industry, due to a legacy of exclusive teaming relationships with the leading fuels and fire protection experts in the fire discipline.

Federal Government Funding Opportunities

Sanborn actively promotes and supports local government by leveraging Federal funding opportunities designed to assist regional and local fire management organizations and proactively manage fire risk. Current options include FEMA Grant opportunities and National Fire Plan initiatives.