VFRDB Classification Procedure for release 1.01 (stable)

The following is an example of the procedure used to classify VRFDB locations to one of the 13 NFFL fuel models. A fuel model will encompass a wide range of fuel loads, and it must be remembered that when classifying a location that credence must be given to the stratum through which the fire will propagate based on local fire knowledge rather than just the total amount of fuel present (Kennedy, 2003). It should be noted that although the following classification procedure was written to allow expedient classification of VFRDB points by a team of individuals, all of the classification for this study was done by Anthony Veltri . It is assumed that anyone using this system will have knowledge of the NFFL classification scheme . The following documentation is for version 1.01 (stable). As of this writing, the current development release is 1.05. A changelog details added (but undocumented) features such as the addition of April 10, 2002 ETM+ imagery for each VFRDB location, a clickable locus map, and a DHTML location dot to ease in navigation.

Prepared by:  Anthony Veltri 11/28/2003

Once your GPS locations have been tagged onto the digital images comprising your VFRDB locations, the next task that remains is to classify those VRFDB locations using NFFL fuel models.  To aid in this task , a web-based interface has been constructed which will allow you to rapidly assign values to the digital images that have been taken.  The collection of additional data in addition to the assignment of fuel model classes will serve as a starting point for future studies.

Step 1:  Log into the web interface using the authentication you have been provided

Step 2:  For each location, you will assign a variety of fuel-related attributes.  Note that each of the loading you select are relative to the final fuel model you assign.  For example:  a "High" value for 100-hour fuel loading in model 8 may correlate to a "Low" value of 100 hour fuel loading in model 10.

Clicking  on either the VFRDB image or the orthophoto will produce a larger version of that image to aid in classifiacation.

Each location has values for the following attributes:

Vladder - checking this box signifies that ladder fuels exist in the photograph (removed after version 1.02).

Hladder  - Checking this box signifies that fuels through which the fire will propagate are horizontally continuous (removed after version 1.02).

1-hour - Value of the 1-hour time lag fuel loading (high/medium/low)

10-hour - Value of the 10-hour time lag fuel loading (high/medium/low)

100-hour - Value of the 100-hour time lag fuel loading (high/medium/low)

Live1hour - Value of the live herbaceous fuel loading (high/medium/low)

Live10hour - Value of the 10-hour live fuel loading (high/medium/low)

Fuel Model - Selection of Fuel Model.  Values include: Brush, Model 8, Model 9, Model 10, and

"Choked" - which is valued as model  10, but with a noted abundance of fine (1-10 hour) live and dead fuel classes.  Also, if a photograph is too blurry, or otherwise not suitable for classification, it can be denoted "not suitable" and discarded from the classificaion.  When selecting fuel models, remember that each fuel model represents a continuum and will encompass a range of fuel loading values.

Final Note:  Idealy, the person who has collected the field data should assign the fuel model classes themselves.  If this is not possible, then the person entering data should discuss the target VFRDB sites with the person who collected them before entry.

Example Photos/loadings:

Shrub/grass surrounded by Model 8

Karl Kenyon surveys the results of a 1-day old burn in Southern Rhode Island.  The fire spread through fine 1 hour fuels and was retarded at the interface with the bordering forest.

VFRDB image of the same location depicting the abandoned facility where the fire occurred and the surrounding forested area.  The orthophoto was taken before the fires occurred.  Note that the surrounding forest with live vegetation acted as a buffer, somewhat retarding the advance of the fire.  The bottom photo shows what the area looked like before the burn.

Fuel Model  8

Take note of the relatively low herbaceous layer and compact leaf litter.

Fuel Model 9

In this model  9 image, we begin to see a higher loading of 1 and 10-hour time lag fuels that can contribute to combusion.

Fuel model 10

In this image, we begin to see higher loadings of 10 and 100-hour fuels as well as a larger amount of live herbaceous material.

Choked Model

Although not an "Official" NFFL fuel model, the "choked" distinction indicates a fuel model 10 with an over abundance of live and dead fine fuel classes.  This model is classified as model 10.