USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications CenterCenter

Operational Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Fire Operational Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Fire Support ProgramsSupport Programs

WRAP/FETS Project MeetingWRAP/FETS Project MeetingBoise, IdahoBoise, Idaho

August 31-September 1, 2009August 31-September 1, 2009

USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications CenterCenter

Operational Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Fire Operational Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Fire Support ProgramsSupport Programs

WRAP/FETS Project MeetingWRAP/FETS Project MeetingBoise, IdahoBoise, Idaho

August 31-September 1, 2009August 31-September 1, 2009

Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)• National Technical CenterNational Technical Center

• Detached Washington Office – EngineeringDetached Washington Office – Engineering

• Geospatial Management Organization (GMO)Geospatial Management Organization (GMO)

• Mission:Mission: Provide national assistance to agency units and Provide national assistance to agency units and deputy areas in applying the most advanced geospatial deputy areas in applying the most advanced geospatial technology toward improved monitoring and mapping technology toward improved monitoring and mapping of natural resourcesof natural resources

USDA Forest Service OrganizationUSDA Forest Service OrganizationUSDA Forest Service OrganizationUSDA Forest Service Organization National Headquarters in Washington, DCNational Headquarters in Washington, DC 9 Regional Offices9 Regional Offices National Forest SystemNational Forest System

155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands 600 Ranger Districts600 Ranger Districts

193 million acres in CONUS, AK and PR193 million acres in CONUS, AK and PR

National Headquarters in Washington, DCNational Headquarters in Washington, DC 9 Regional Offices9 Regional Offices National Forest SystemNational Forest System

155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands 600 Ranger Districts600 Ranger Districts

193 million acres in CONUS, AK and PR193 million acres in CONUS, AK and PR

Research 7 stations 50 field offices

State and Private Forestry Fire & Aviation Forest Health

Protection International

Programs

Research 7 stations 50 field offices

State and Private Forestry Fire & Aviation Forest Health

Protection International

Programs

Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC)

Rapid Disturbance Assessment and Services Rapid Disturbance Assessment and Services ProgramProgram Tactical and strategic remote sensing support Forest Tactical and strategic remote sensing support Forest

Service units and external partners in response to Service units and external partners in response to disturbance events disturbance events

Includes operational active wildland fire management Includes operational active wildland fire management and post-fire assessment support programs/projectsand post-fire assessment support programs/projects

RSAC Areas of Interest for Operational Air RSAC Areas of Interest for Operational Air Quality Management SupportQuality Management SupportRSAC Areas of Interest for Operational Air RSAC Areas of Interest for Operational Air Quality Management SupportQuality Management Support

Provide high temporal observations/value-added products from various satellites (MODIS, AURA, VIIRS, etc.) to support USFS and other agency air quality managers

Identify source/receptor relationships Exceptional events in relation to states Natural and anthropogenic sources of smoke relative to Class 1

areas Rx fire effects on urban areas

Provide satellite-based ozone monitoring products, particularly in the south Sierras and the southeast U.S.

Integrate/analyze results with ongoing USFS ground-based ozone monitoring efforts

Provide fire detection, burn scar and burn severity geospatial data products (moderate and high resolution) for existing and future emissions tracking/forecasting applications

WRAP/FETS Blue Sky Smoke Modeling Framework

RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping ProgramsProgramsRSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping ProgramsPrograms

Active Fire Mapping MODIS Direct Readout/Active Fire Mapping Program

Near real-time fire detection, characterization and monitoring Support interagency strategic fire management and planning

Post-fire Mapping Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS)

Assess frequency, extent and severity of all current/historical large wildland fires

Monitor national fire policy effectiveness

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Imagery Support Emergency assessment of burn severity Support emergency stabilization activities by USFS BAER

teams Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire

(RAVG) Rapid assessment of forest damage Revegetation decision support data/information for USFS forest

silviculturists

Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping ProgramProgramForest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping ProgramProgram Satellite-based operational Satellite-based operational

detection and monitoring of detection and monitoring of wildland fire activity in CONUS, wildland fire activity in CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii & CanadaAlaska, Hawaii & Canada

• Generate and provide "value Generate and provide "value added” fire mapping and added” fire mapping and visualization products, and visualization products, and geospatial datageospatial data

• Facilitates decision support for Facilitates decision support for strategic wildfire planning and strategic wildfire planning and response for U.S. and Canadian response for U.S. and Canadian fire agenciesfire agencies

Prioritize allocation of fire Prioritize allocation of fire suppression assetssuppression assets

Focus tactical airborne Focus tactical airborne reconnaissance assetsreconnaissance assets

Supports several fire-related Supports several fire-related applications and decision support applications and decision support systemssystems

Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping ProgramProgramForest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping ProgramProgram

Currently Leveraged Sensor AssetsCurrently Leveraged Sensor Assets

* * VIIRS launch on NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) mission in June 2011 and subsequent NPOESS VIIRS launch on NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) mission in June 2011 and subsequent NPOESS missionsmissions

## GOES-R launch in 2015 and subsequent missions GOES-R launch in 2015 and subsequent missions

SensorSensor Platform Platform TypeType

Spatial Spatial Resolution Resolution

(Reflectance/TIR (Reflectance/TIR Bands)Bands)

Temporal Temporal Resolution Resolution

(per (per instrument)instrument)

Fire AlgorithmFire Algorithm Data SourceData Source

MODISMODIS Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 250m, 500m, 250m, 500m, 1km/1km1km/1km

2 times daily2 times daily MOD14/MYD14MOD14/MYD14 Direct Readout; Direct Readout; NASA Rapid NASA Rapid Response Response

SystemSystem

AVHRRAVHRR Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 1km/1km1km/1km 2 times daily2 times daily FIMMAFIMMA NOAA NESDISNOAA NESDIS

GOESGOES GeostationaryGeostationary 1km/4km1km/4km 4 times 4 times hourlyhourly

WF-ABBAWF-ABBA NOAA NESDISNOAA NESDIS

VIIRS*VIIRS* Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 375m/750m375m/750m 2 times daily2 times daily TBDTBD Direct Readout; Direct Readout; Rapid Rapid

ResponseResponse

GOES-RGOES-R## GeostationaryGeostationary 500m, 500m, 1km/2km1km/2km

4 times 4 times hourlyhourly

TBDTBD Direct Readout; Direct Readout; NOAA NESDISNOAA NESDIS

MODIS Fire & Thermal Anomalies MODIS Fire & Thermal Anomalies (MOD14/MYD14)(MOD14/MYD14)MODIS Fire & Thermal Anomalies MODIS Fire & Thermal Anomalies (MOD14/MYD14)(MOD14/MYD14)

• Detects & characterizes fire Detects & characterizes fire at 1kmat 1km spatial resolution at spatial resolution at time of satellite overpasstime of satellite overpass

• Leverages response of 4Leverages response of 4mm and 11and 11m m bands to firebands to fire

• Absolute thresholds and Absolute thresholds and contextual analysiscontextual analysis

• Fire detection is affected by Fire detection is affected by several variablesseveral variables

Atmospheric conditions, view Atmospheric conditions, view angle, land cover, overpass angle, land cover, overpass time relative to fire activity, time relative to fire activity, etc.etc.

• Fire activity smaller than Fire activity smaller than 1km can be detected1km can be detected

100m100m22 flaming fire (50% flaming fire (50% probability)probability)

50m50m22 flaming fire in ideal flaming fire in ideal viewing conditions (~100% viewing conditions (~100% probability)probability)

Central IdahoCentral IdahoAug 12, 2007Aug 12, 2007

True Color True Color CompositeComposite

Central IdahoCentral IdahoAug 12, 2007Aug 12, 2007False Color False Color CompositeComposite

(Active fires in (Active fires in orange)orange)

Central IdahoCentral IdahoAug 12, 2007Aug 12, 2007False Color False Color CompositeComposite

(1-KM detection (1-KM detection centroids in yellow)centroids in yellow)

Northern California – June 27, 2008Northern California – June 27, 2008

AFM Operational Fire Product DeliverablesAFM Operational Fire Product DeliverablesAFM Operational Fire Product DeliverablesAFM Operational Fire Product Deliverables

Value-Added Mapping/Visualization Products and Geospatial DataValue-Added Mapping/Visualization Products and Geospatial Data•Printable regional fire detection Printable regional fire detection

mapsmaps

•Interactive web fire detection Interactive web fire detection mapsmaps

•Google Earth fire KML/KMZ Google Earth fire KML/KMZ productsproducts

•Fire detection GIS datasetsFire detection GIS datasets

•True & False color image True & False color image subsetssubsets

•Fire detection analysis/summary Fire detection analysis/summary productsproducts

A Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODIS

Southern California – August 29, 2009 1515 MDTSouthern California – August 29, 2009 1515 MDTAqua MODIS True Color CompositeAqua MODIS True Color Composite

A Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODIS

Southern California – August 29, 2009 1515 Southern California – August 29, 2009 1515 MDTMDTAqua MODIS False Color CompositeAqua MODIS False Color Composite

A Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODISA Look At Recent Fire Activity With MODIS

Station Fire – August 31, 2009 1300 MDTStation Fire – August 31, 2009 1300 MDT

RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping ProgramsProgramsRSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping RSAC Satellite-Based Fire Mapping ProgramsPrograms

Active Fire Mapping MODIS Direct Readout/Active Fire Mapping Program

Near real-time fire detection, characterization and monitoring Support interagency strategic fire management and planning

Post-fire Mapping Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS)

Assess frequency, extent and severity of all current/historical large wildland fires

Monitor national fire policy effectiveness

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Imagery Support Emergency assessment of burn severity Support emergency stabilization activities by USFS BAER

teams Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire

(RAVG) Rapid assessment of forest damage Revegetation decision support data/information for USFS forest

silviculturists

MTBS Project OverviewMTBS Project OverviewMTBS Project OverviewMTBS Project Overview

Consistently map the location, extent and burn severity of large fires on all lands in the CONUS, AK, HI and PR from 1984 and 2010 > 1,000 acres in the western United States > 500 acres in the eastern United States

Initiated in FY 2006

Sponsored by the interagency Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) One element of a strategy monitoring the effectiveness of

NFP and HFRA

Jointly implemented by USFS RSAC and USGS EROS Equal funding from USDA-FS and DOI

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity

Leveraged Sensor AssetsLeveraged Sensor Assets

11 – LDCM launch currently scheduled for December 2012 – LDCM launch currently scheduled for December 2012

SensorSensor Platform TypePlatform Type Spatial Spatial Resolution Resolution

(Reflectance Bands)(Reflectance Bands)

Temporal Temporal Resolution Resolution

(per instrument)(per instrument)

Data SourceData Source

Landsat 4 TMLandsat 4 TM Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

Landsat 5 TMLandsat 5 TM Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

Landsat 7 Landsat 7 ETM+ETM+

Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

LDCMLDCM11 Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

Why Landsat??? Operational precedent

NPS fire atlases USFS/DOI BAER Programs

Landsat TM/ETM data record (1984 to present) Consistent data record spanning ecologically and possibly

climatically significant time frame Resolution synergy

Spatial and spectral resolutions comparable to other national scale data

Burn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping Primer

Exploiting Spectral Response Curves…Exploiting Spectral Response Curves…

VisibleVisible NIRNIR SWIRSWIR

Burn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping PrimerBurn Severity Mapping PrimerP

re-fi

reP

re-fi

re

P

ost-

Post-

fire

fi

re

dNBRdNBR Burn SeverityBurn Severity

LandsatLandsat NBRNBR

DifferenceDifference

Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR)Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR)NBR = (NIR – SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)NBR = (NIR – SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)

dNBR = Pre NBR – Post NBRdNBR = Pre NBR – Post NBRDifferenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)

6/8/20056/8/2005

6/14/20076/14/2007

Burn scar delineation and burn severity Burn scar delineation and burn severity characterization are based on Landsat TM/ETM characterization are based on Landsat TM/ETM image pairs and the differenced Normalized Burn image pairs and the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)Ratio (dNBR)

See “Landscape Assessment” section in Fire Effects See “Landscape Assessment” section in Fire Effects Monitoring and Inventory Protocol (FIREMON)Monitoring and Inventory Protocol (FIREMON)

MTBS Fire Mapping Methods OverviewMTBS Fire Mapping Methods OverviewMTBS Fire Mapping Methods OverviewMTBS Fire Mapping Methods Overview Compile a single MTBS fire occurrence database Compile a single MTBS fire occurrence database

(FOD) from existing data sources(FOD) from existing data sources 28,000+ fire occurrences between 1984-200828,000+ fire occurrences between 1984-2008 Numerous duplicates, spatial anomalies, etcNumerous duplicates, spatial anomalies, etc

Based on FOD and prescribed assessment Based on FOD and prescribed assessment strategy, select pre and post-fire Landsat scenesstrategy, select pre and post-fire Landsat scenes Determined by primarily biophysical setting of fireDetermined by primarily biophysical setting of fire

Landsat TM/ETM+ data ordered and acquired Landsat TM/ETM+ data ordered and acquired from EROSfrom EROS All Landsat data are free (since late 2008)All Landsat data are free (since late 2008)

Perform necessary pre-processing, create and Perform necessary pre-processing, create and subset dNBR images, burn scar delineation, subset dNBR images, burn scar delineation, threshold dNBR images into burn severity classesthreshold dNBR images into burn severity classes

Metadata, map products, burn severity GIS data Metadata, map products, burn severity GIS data analysis, and reporting summaryanalysis, and reporting summary

MTBS Fire Occurrence LocationsMTBS Fire Occurrence LocationsMTBS Fire Occurrence LocationsMTBS Fire Occurrence Locations

28,000+ fires 28,000+ fires for 1984-for 1984-

20082008

1984-20081984-2008

28,000+ target 28,000+ target firesfires

Numerous Numerous duplicates and duplicates and

spatial anomaliesspatial anomalies

MTBS Methods – Assessment StrategyMTBS Methods – Assessment StrategyMTBS Methods – Assessment StrategyMTBS Methods – Assessment Strategy

Based on fire type Extended Assessment (EA)

Severity based on post-fire assessment at peak of green of next growing season

Forests/shrublands Initial Assessment (IA)

Severity based on immediate post-fire assessment Grasslands/shrublands

“Single Scene” Assessment Lack of suitable pre-fire imagery or other factors; use

post-fire NBR Conducted on a limited basis (EAs and IAs)

MTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial Products

Fire Level DatasetsFire Level Datasets Available at Available at

http://www.mtbs.govhttp://www.mtbs.gov

Pre/Post-fire Landsat imageryPre/Post-fire Landsat imagery Bands 1-5, 7Bands 1-5, 7

Burn scar boundaryBurn scar boundary Vector delineation of Vector delineation of

burned area extent based burned area extent based on image analysison image analysis

Continuous burn severity Continuous burn severity indicesindices

dNBR/RdNBRdNBR/RdNBR Thematic burn severity data Thematic burn severity data

6 classes (unburned to low, 6 classes (unburned to low, low, moderate, high, low, moderate, high, increased vegetation increased vegetation response, non-mappable response, non-mappable areas)areas)

Prefire ImagePrefire Image Postfire ImagePostfire Image

Burn Severity IndicesBurn Severity Indices Thematic Burn SeverityThematic Burn Severity

Unburned Unburned to Lowto Low

LowLow

ModerateModerate

HighHigh

MTBS Production StatusMTBS Production StatusMTBS Production StatusMTBS Production Status

1984-20071984-2007

~9,600 fires ~9,600 fires completedcompleted

81.6 million acres81.6 million acres

MTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial ProductsMTBS Geospatial ProductsComposite MTBS Fire DatasetsComposite MTBS Fire Datasets NationalNational

Burn Scar BoundariesBurn Scar Boundaries ESRI Shapefile w/metadataESRI Shapefile w/metadata Fire attributesFire attributes

Fire Occurrence Database Fire Occurrence Database ESRI Shapefile w/metadataESRI Shapefile w/metadata Geographic centroid of burn Geographic centroid of burn

scar boundaries for each firescar boundaries for each fire Fire and MTBS processing Fire and MTBS processing

attributesattributes

RegionalRegional Thematic Burn Severity Thematic Burn Severity

Image Mosaics Image Mosaics 6 class thematic GeoTiffs 6 class thematic GeoTiffs

w/metadataw/metadata Available by MTBS mapping Available by MTBS mapping

zone/yearzone/year

2005 burn severity mosaics by MTBS zones2005 burn severity mosaics by MTBS zones

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Fast track emergency assessmentFast track emergency assessment

• Fires ranging from 100s of acres to 100s of thousands of acres in size

• Assess fire effects on the soil and watershed hydrologic function (erosion and flood potential)

• Prescribe and implement emergency stabilization measures to mitigate potential hazards to:

• Life

• Property

• Long-term soil productivity

• Water quality

• Natural resources

• BAER response plan is required within 7 BAER response plan is required within 7 days of fire containmentdays of fire containment

• Remote sensing support is critical in Remote sensing support is critical in generating BAER team response plansgenerating BAER team response plans

Straw waddles on Pike-San Isabel Straw waddles on Pike-San Isabel NFNF

Contour logging on Shasta-Trinity Contour logging on Shasta-Trinity NFNF

Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupportBurned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupport

•Provide rapid delivery of imagery and Provide rapid delivery of imagery and derived products to Forest Service derived products to Forest Service BAER teamsBAER teams

Burned Area Reflectance Classification Burned Area Reflectance Classification (BARC)(BARC), preliminary vegetation burn severity, , preliminary vegetation burn severity, based on dNBR/dNDVI assessmentbased on dNBR/dNDVI assessment

BAER teams use BARC with field observations BAER teams use BARC with field observations and other spatial data to generate a and other spatial data to generate a soil burn soil burn severityseverity map map

RSAC remote sensing support provided RSAC remote sensing support provided at or immediately after fire containmentat or immediately after fire containment

Emergency assessmentEmergency assessment RSAC provides imagery and data RSAC provides imagery and data

products within 24 hours of image products within 24 hours of image acquisitionacquisition

532 fires completed since 2001 (13.6 532 fires completed since 2001 (13.6 million acres)million acres)

USFS and DOI BAER support programs USFS and DOI BAER support programs combined -736 fires completed since combined -736 fires completed since 2001 (25.7 million acres) 2001 (25.7 million acres)

PrefirePrefire

BARCBARC

PostfirePostfire

Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupportBurned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupport

Leveraged Sensor Assets – Use Best AvailableLeveraged Sensor Assets – Use Best Available

1 1 – Anomalous SWIR band issues since April 2008;– Anomalous SWIR band issues since April 2008; 2 2 -- LDCM launch currently scheduled for LDCM launch currently scheduled for December 2012December 2012

SensorSensor Platform TypePlatform Type Spatial Spatial Resolution Resolution

(Reflectance Bands)(Reflectance Bands)

Temporal Temporal Resolution Resolution (per (per

instrument)instrument)

Data SourceData Source

Landsat 5 TMLandsat 5 TM Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

Landsat 7 Landsat 7 ETM+ETM+

Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

AWiFSAWiFS Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 56m56m 5 days5 days USDA-FAS-SIAUSDA-FAS-SIA

SPOT 4SPOT 4 Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 20m20m 2-3 days 2-3 days (pointable)(pointable)

SPOT ImageSPOT Image

SPOT 5SPOT 5 Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 10m/20m10m/20m 2-3 days 2-3 days (pointable)(pointable)

SPOT ImageSPOT Image

ASTERASTER11 Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 15m/30m15m/30m 4-16 days 4-16 days (pointable)(pointable)

NASA/USGS NASA/USGS EROSEROS

NASA AMSNASA AMS Airborne (UAV)Airborne (UAV) ~ 21m~ 21m ---- NASANASA

LDCMLDCM22 Polar orbitingPolar orbiting 30m30m 16 days16 days USGS EROSUSGS EROS

Prefire

Creation of the BARCCreation of the BARCCreation of the BARCCreation of the BARC

Black Pine 2 Black Pine 2 Fire Sawtooth Fire Sawtooth

NFNF73,000 Acres73,000 AcresNormalized Burn Ratio (NBR)Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR)

Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR)

NBR = (NIR – SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)NBR = (NIR – SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)dNBR = Pre NBR – Post NBRdNBR = Pre NBR – Post NBR

PostfiredNBR

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)Differenced NDVI (dNDVI)Differenced NDVI (dNDVI)

NDVI = (NIR – Red) / (NIR + Red)NDVI = (NIR – Red) / (NIR + Red)dNDVI = Pre NDVI – Post NDVIdNDVI = Pre NDVI – Post NDVI

BARC

Unburned to LowUnburned to Low

LowLow

ModerateModerate

HighHighdNDVI is utilized when appropriate dNDVI is utilized when appropriate SWIR band is not availableSWIR band is not available

Prefire ImagePrefire Image

Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupportBurned Area Emergency Response Imagery Burned Area Emergency Response Imagery SupportSupport

Postfire ImagePostfire Image

dNBR or dNDVI ImagedNBR or dNDVI Image BARC ImageBARC Image

BAER Support Rapid Delivery ProductsBAER Support Rapid Delivery Products

3D Visualizations3D Visualizations

Map ProductsMap Products

Post-Fire Vegetation Management on National Post-Fire Vegetation Management on National Forest System Lands Forest System Lands Post-Fire Vegetation Management on National Post-Fire Vegetation Management on National Forest System Lands Forest System Lands

Agency resources to support reforestation in burned areas are limited, consequently, better prioritization is needed

USFS Region 5 facilitated a protocol for rapid identification of deforestation and reforestation need on National Forest System lands

Leverage relationship of satellite-based burn severity observations to Composite Burn Index (CBI) field plot data that quantify fire effects to vegetation (deforestation)

Spatially represent forested vs. deforested areas following wildfire

Based on Landfire EVT

Silviculturists use results as a tool to identify and prioritize land suitable for reforestation

Natural Recovery Assisted Recovery (planting, seeding or site preparation for

natural recovery)

Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire (RAVG)Wildfire (RAVG)Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire (RAVG)Wildfire (RAVG)

•Provide Landsat imagery and derived products characterizing fire effects on forest resources to silviculturists (based on USFS protocol)

Assessment based on RdNBR – a relative version of dNBR

Regression models based on CBI field plot data and RdNBR used to derive post-fire forest condition layers:

Burn severity

% basal area loss

% canopy cover loss

Conducted on fires where > 1,000 acres of NFS forested land is affected

RAVG data and summary products are provided within 30 days of fire containment

142 fires completed since 2007 (~4.5 million acres)

Postfire ImagePostfire Image

RdNBRRdNBR

7 Class Basal Area Mortality7 Class Basal Area Mortality

Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after WildfireWildfireRapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after WildfireWildfire

Primary RAVG Product DeliverablesPrimary RAVG Product Deliverables• Prefire Landsat image

• Postfire Landsat image

• Burn Scar Boundary

• dNBR and RdNBR

•% Change in Basal Area

•% Change in Canopy Cover

•Burn Severity

•Forested/Deforested map and tabular summaries by land status and slope

Additional InformationAdditional InformationAdditional InformationAdditional Information

RSAC Fire Mapping Support ProgramsRSAC Fire Mapping Support Programs

MODIS Active Fire Mapping ProgramMODIS Active Fire Mapping Programhttp://activefiremaps.fs.fed.ushttp://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity ProjectMonitoring Trends in Burn Severity Projecthttp://www.mtbs.gov

BAER Imagery Support ProgramBAER Imagery Support Programhttp://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/baer

Rapid Assessment of Vegetation after Fire Rapid Assessment of Vegetation after Fire ProgramProgram

http://www.fs.fed.us/postfirevegcondition/index.phphttp://www.fs.fed.us/postfirevegcondition/index.php