GRS was contracted by US Fish and Wildlife service to develop a model for the determination of Biophysical Settings, current vegetation condition for the subsequent analysis of the Fire Regime and Condition Class (FRCC).
The goal of this model was to incorporate physical parameters in conjunction with general vegetation maps to refine the assignment of the BpS and associated seral stages. GRS developed a geospatial GIS model that creates biophysical zones by incorporating a variety of pertinent physical parameters such as elevation, slope aspect and an advanced calculation to determine likely riparian zones. This model accommodates local thresholds to these parameters such that the model can be applied across the Alaska Refuge system. The model was developed within the ArcMap GIS Modelbuilder environment so that inputs and products can be viewed and analyzed interactively within the GIS. The model was run on Kanuti NWR and Kenai NWR and the results processed through the FRCC Mapping Tool.
