Advanced tools and technologies to support EFETAC technology transfer and science delivery
PARTNERS: University of North Carolina Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC)
SUMMARY: The EFETAC-NEMAC Collaborative was formed to meet the technology requirements of the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC). The collaboration between EFETAC and NEMAC supports the mission of the Center with the development of advanced tools and technologies to support the technology transfer needs of EFETAC users and audiences. Personnel from the Forest Service and NEMAC work together to develop the methodologies and technologies needed to achieve the short-term goals and implement the long-term vision of the Center.
Activities of this collaboration include, but are not limited to the transfer, delivery, and communication of EFETAC projects; the development and advancement of EFETAC tools and technology; the support of the data and computational infrastructure for these tools and technology; and the assistance and support of partnerships and cross-agency efforts.
The primary benefit of this collaboration and the resulting deliverables relate to (a) understanding the problems involved in data collection, management and analysis of data for technology transfer, (b) creating tools that meet the high-speed access and sharing needs of the environmental threat community and helping to further understand the problem, and (c) developing selected tools for deployment within the Forest Service (FS) and for decision makers, landowners, extension agents, and others.
Description of current projects:
ForWarn - ForWarn is a suite of tools that helps forest and natural resources managers use phenology data to understand unexpected change within our nation’s forests. These changes, or forest disturbances, could have multiple sources such as insects, disease, or storm damage, or may be human-induced events, like thinning, harvest or forest conversion to agriculture, residential, or commercial use. The primary goal of ForWarn is to allow for a seamless integration between monitoring, detection, early warning, and prediction of these disturbances as observed through phenological data. NEMAC’s efforts include the development of the Forest Change Assessment Viewer; the ForWarn website; animations and learning modules; database-driven web tools to document observed changes within phenological data; automated processes to analyze and produce threat alerts; and training, including video modules and workshops.
National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy - The intention of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy is to develop an innovative national approach to address the increasingly complex reality of wildland fire management in the United States. The development of this strategy is to provide a comprehensive, science-based report that addresses the significant, long-standing challenges to managing the ever-growing wildfire situation facing the nation. NEMAC provided the Strategy and the National Science and Analysis Team (NSAT) with geographic analysis, data management, website design and development, and facilitation support.
TACCIMO - TACCIMO is the Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options, which is a web interface intended to facilitate the integration of climate change science into land management planning. NEMAC supports this initiative through technology support and programming development.
Greater Appalachian Conservation Partnership Ecosystem Services - NEMAC is supporting EFETAC’s research on ecosystem services in the Appalachians by providing data and technological support. Specifically, this effort includes managing and contributing to content on the Greater Appalachian Conservation Partnership website and assisting with data management.
Landscape Dynamics Assessment Tool (LanDAT) - LanDAT helps resource managers monitor broad patterns of vegetation change in order to understand dynamic landscapes and their capacity to provide ecological services and benefits. NEMAC supports this effort by providing advanced GIS analysis and tool development, as well as communication support and workshop facilitation.
NEMAC provides support to various other EFETAC projects including data hosting services, science communication support, and crafting solutions to other EFETAC technological and science delivery needs.
EFETAC'S ROLE: EFETAC funds support this collaboration. EFETAC and NEMAC personnel work together to develop methodologies and technologies for the projects described above.
STATUS: Ongoing
LINKS:
NEMAC webpages:
National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
CONTACT:
- Karin Rogers, NEMAC Director, krogers@unca.edu or (828) 250-3892
Updated July 2018
