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Abstract
LIDAR: A Promising Approach to Estimating Western Forest Fire Susceptibility
Track: Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
Author(s): Lee Vierling, Eric Rowell, Denise Dykstra
Fires are synonymous with Western pine forest ecosystems. Fire management, however, has become increasingly problematic after decades of suppression, increased recreational use, and urban development across the rural West. LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) is an active remote sensing technique that can provide large-scale measurements of forest structure. These data hold promise for estimating both the total amount and the vertical distribution of fire fuel. We show how LIDAR data correspond with field measurements of forest structure in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and how these data can be merged with other spatial data to assist fire management decisions.
Lee Vierling
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences
501 E. St. Joseph Street
Rapid City , SD 57701
USA
Phone: 605-394-6855
Fax: 605-394-6061
E-mail: lee.vierling@sdsmt.edu
Eric Rowell
Horizon's, Incorporated
LIDAR
3600 Jet Drive
Rapid City , SD 57709 Phone: 343-0300 x148
E-mail: erowell@horizonsinc.com
Denise Dykstra
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Institute of Atmospheric Sciences
501 E. St. Joseph Street
Rapid City , SD 57701 Phone: 605-394-2291
E-mail: Denise.Dykstra@gold.sdsmt.edu