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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 customers. Personnel from the Forest Service and NEMAC will 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; 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, land owners, extension agents, and others.
Description of projects:
- CRAFT (Comparative Risk Assessment Framework and Tools) - CRAFT is an advanced web and GIS-based toolset for decision makers that is used in a team facilitated environment. CRAFT, based on the NEPA Decision Protocol 2.0, utilizes database driven websites, GIS services, conceptual models and probability-based thinking to help teams identify and clarify objectives, design alternatives, assess probable effects, and compare and communicate risks. Project efforts also include hosting training workshops, seminars and informal classes on CRAFT, as well as assistance with specific committed CRAFT projects like the National Wildland Fire Management Cohesive Strategy.
- Early Warning System - The Early Warning System is a suite of tools that helps research scientists, Forest Service Sketch Mappers, forest and natural resources managers, decision makers and the public to 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 the system is to allow for a seamless integration between monitoring, detection, early warning and prediction of these disturbances as observed through phenological data. Project efforts include the development of the Forest Change Assessment Viewer, the Early Warning System website, animations and learning modules, database-driven web tools to document observed changes within phenological data, and automated processes to analyze and produce threat alerts. Training, video modules, and workshop opportunities will be available as well.
- Forest Threat Summary - This tool provides users with the capability to search an integrated threat database system for up-to-date and reliable threat information including images, text, pertinent websites, extension and USFS personnel contact information, and maps of the spatial extent of the threat. The tool allows the user to search by keyword, browse through a listing of threats, and to search by region. Experts and scientists have the ability to update threat information through a password-protected Threat Editor.
- Support of various other EFETAC projects including science communications, invasive species research, Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO), and various Center 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: UNC Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC)
CONTACT:
- Jim Fox, NEMAC Director, jfox@unca.edu or (828) 301-2075
- Karin Rogers, NEMAC Project Manager, krogers@unca.edu or (828) 250-3892
Updated December 2011
