The forest fuel survey dataset comprises site-level summary data from the well-designed fuel load surveys across 48 AusPlots Forests- 1-ha monitoring plots across Australia. Data presented here includes data on the surface, near-surface, and elevated fuel loads for each of the Forest Ausplots. It includes iButton data on 1) temperature and humidity, 2) data on litterfall and 3) decomposition rates. We also provide additional information on soil nutrient data, species composition of the understorey and midstorey, and panorama photos from the plot centre. This dataset is the second version of the AusPlots Forest Fuel Survey site-level data summary, 2014 - 2015. Version 1.0.0. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. (dataset). https://doi.org/10.25901/efnh-sk06

The dataset comprises well-designed survey data from the first fuel load survey across 192 transects within the 48 AusPlots Forests, 1-ha monitoring plots across Australia. Data includes: [1] Site identifiers (ID and Site Name) and site- or transect- specific notes from the fuel survey campaign; [2] Transect survey dates; [3] Transect photograph numbers and attributes (Bearing, Slope and Aspect); [4] Fuel measurements (Grass and Litter height; Duff depth; Fine Woody fuel counts and Coarse Woody fuel counts and diameter; Projective cover for biomass components (Grass, Litter, Herbs, Vines and Shrubs), and Mass of biomass components (Grass, Litter, Herbs and Vines)); [5] Moisture content for biomass components (Grass, Litter, Herbs and Vines). Descriptions of the data and coding protocols used in the database are explained in (a) the database itself; (b) the explanatory file attached to this dataset and (c) the Ausplots Forest Monitoring Network Manual. The protocols and coding used in this module are drawn directly from international forest fuel survey protocols and are consistent with other Australian forest fuel inventory methodologies. For site-level aggregation of the data, please see the following record: https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/1dd61f70-7fc8-495f-8c88-823e2834b10b

Data includes field observed cover of several vegetation functional groups, e.g. annual herbaceous, perennial herbaceous, exotic annual grasses, perennial bunch grasses, shrubs, sagebrush shrubs, non-sagebrush shrubs, bare mineral soil, rocks, and litter. Additionally, if tree canopy was present within field plots, tree canopy cover was estimated, forest type recorded, and the number of individual trees rooted within the plot counted. Standard fire behavior fuel models were classified for each plot. Available data from remotely sensed models estimating soil properties, topographic features, solar radiation indices, and vegetation cover by functional group are also included.

LANDFIRE (LF) 2022 Fuel Vegetation Height (FVH) represents the LF Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) product, modified to represent pre-disturbance EVH in areas where disturbances have occurred over the past 10 years. EVH is mapped as continuous estimates of canopy height for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms with a potential range of 0-100m. Continuous EVH values are binned to align with fuel model assignments when creating FVH. FVH is an input for fuel transitions related to disturbance. Fuel products in LF 2022 were created with LF 2016 Remap vegetation in non-disturbed areas. To designate disturbed areas where FVH is modified, the aggregated Annual Disturbance products from 2013 to 2022 in the Fuel Disturbance (FDist) product are used. All existing disturbances between 2013-2022 are represented in the LF 2022 update, and the products are intended to be used in 2023 (the year of release). The "capable" year terminology used in LF 2020 and LF 2016 Remap is no longer specified, due to reduction in latency from when a disturbance occurs to the release date of fuel products accounting for that disturbance. However, users should still consider adjusting fuel layers for disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2022 fiscal year (after October 1st, 2022) when using the LF 2022 fuel products. Because those changes would not be accounted for. Learn more about LF 2022 at https://landfire.gov/lf_230.php

LANDFIRE (LF) 2022 Fuel Vegetation Height (FVH) represents the LF Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) product, modified to represent pre-disturbance EVH in areas where disturbances have occurred over the past 10 years. EVH is mapped as continuous estimates of canopy height for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms with a potential range of 0-100m. Continuous EVH values are binned to align with fuel model assignments when creating FVH. FVH is an input for fuel transitions related to disturbance. Fuel products in LF 2022 were created with LF 2016 Remap vegetation in non-disturbed areas. To designate disturbed areas where FVH is modified, the aggregated Annual Disturbance products from 2013 to 2022 in the Fuel Disturbance (FDist) product are used. All existing disturbances between 2013-2022 are represented in the LF 2022 update, and the products are intended to be used in 2023 (the year of release). The "capable" year terminology used in LF 2020 and LF 2016 Remap is no longer specified, due to reduction in latency from when a disturbance occurs to the release date of fuel products accounting for that disturbance. However, users should still consider adjusting fuel layers for disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2022 fiscal year (after October 1st, 2022) when using the LF 2022 fuel products. Because those changes would not be accounted for. Learn more about LF 2022 at https://landfire.gov/lf_230.php

LANFIRE’s (LF) 2016 Remap Forest Canopy Height (CH) describes the average height of the top of the canopy for a stand. In disturbed locations CH is calculated from linear regression equations derived from Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) plot data output, but at non-disturbed locations it is assigned the midpoint of Fuel Vegetation Height (FVH) forested classes. In some instances, LF Remap assumes the potential burnable biomass in the tree canopy has been accounted for in the surface fuel model. For example, young or short conifer stands where the trees are represented by a shrub type fuel model will not have canopy characteristics. LF Remap Annual Disturbance products are incorporated into CH to provide informed changes by disturbance type, severity, and time since disturbance (TSD). Annual Disturbance products provide a pre-disturbance scenario represented by LF Remap existing vegetation products, the reporting of pre-disturbance scenarios helps to calculate CH. Vegetation adjustments are then modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CH is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CH supplies information for fire behavior models, such as FARSITE (Finney 1998), that can determine; the starting point for embers in the spotting model, wind reductions, and the volume of crown fuels. CH also has capable fuels functionality, capable fuels calculate TSD assignments for disturbed areas using an "effective year.” For example, year 2020 fuels may be calculated for the year 2020. This new process considers all the existing disturbances included in LF Remap and adjusts the TSD for these to the effective year (2020 in this example), making the products "2020 capable fuels." More information about capable fuels can be found at https://www.landfire.gov/lf_remap.php.

LANFIRE’s (LF) 2016 Remap Forest Canopy Height (CH) describes the average height of the top of the canopy for a stand. In disturbed locations CH is calculated from linear regression equations derived from Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) plot data output, but at non-disturbed locations it is assigned the midpoint of Fuel Vegetation Height (FVH) forested classes. In some instances, LF Remap assumes the potential burnable biomass in the tree canopy has been accounted for in the surface fuel model. For example, young or short conifer stands where the trees are represented by a shrub type fuel model will not have canopy characteristics. LF Remap Annual Disturbance products are incorporated into CH to provide informed changes by disturbance type, severity, and time since disturbance (TSD). Annual Disturbance products provide a pre-disturbance scenario represented by LF Remap existing vegetation products, the reporting of pre-disturbance scenarios helps to calculate CH. Vegetation adjustments are then modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CH is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CH supplies information for fire behavior models, such as FARSITE (Finney 1998), that can determine; the starting point for embers in the spotting model, wind reductions, and the volume of crown fuels. CH also has capable fuels functionality, capable fuels calculate TSD assignments for disturbed areas using an "effective year.” For example, year 2020 fuels may be calculated for the year 2020. This new process considers all the existing disturbances included in LF Remap and adjusts the TSD for these to the effective year (2020 in this example), making the products "2020 capable fuels." More information about capable fuels can be found at https://www.landfire.gov/lf_remap.php.

This data contains the visual assessment of fuel layers in fire-sensitive Eucalyptus salubris woodlands using Vesta methods across 24 sites in a multi-century (10 to 260+ years since fire) time-since-fire sequence derived from growth ring-size relationships.

Data includes species cover of cheatgrass (BRTE) and Russian thistle (SATR), as well as functional group cover of Sandberg's bluegrass (POSE), bare ground, litter, and shrubs for the year of 2021.

LANDFIRE’s (LF) Remap Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) describes the mass of available canopy fuel per unit canopy volume that would burn in a crown fire. A spatially explicit map of CBD supplies information used in fire behavior models to determine the spread characteristics of crown fires across the landscape. The CBD mapping process derives field referenced estimates of canopy characteristics through LF Reference Database (LFRDB) plot analysis. Utilizing the LFRDB plots, field referenced CBD values are computed for each plot with the canopy fuel estimation software FuelCalc. In FuelCalc, for tree species that have no crown biomass, an equation for a species with a similar genus is used as a substitute. Species widely considered to be resistant to fire are excluded, for example, Acer and Populus spp. are excluded from the canopy fuel profile because these species are considered relatively inflammable and therefore unavailable. CBD has a series of post-processing techniques and logic checks ensuring it is relevant in the context of other fuel products and fire behavior predictions. All non-forest values and non-burnable types such as urban, barren, snow and ice, and agriculture are coded as 0. Some stands dominated by broadleaf species which typically do not permit initiation of crown fire (e.g. Populus spp.) are coded with a CBD of 0.01 kg m-3. In some instances, LF Remap assumes the potential burnable biomass in the tree canopy has been accounted for in the surface fuel model. For example, young or short conifer stands where the trees are represented by a shrub type fuel model will not have canopy characteristics. LF Remap Annual Disturbance products are incorporated into CBD to provide informed changes by disturbance type, severity, and time since disturbance (TSD). Annual Disturbance products provide a pre-disturbance scenario represented by LF Remap existing vegetation products. Reporting of the pre-disturbance scenario helps to calculate CBD, with information about vegetation type, cover, and height impacted by a disturbance. With the use of Annual Disturbance products, CBD also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculate TSD assignments for disturbed areas using an "effective year." For example, year 2020 fuels may be calculated for the year 2020. This new process considers all the existing disturbances included in LF Remap and adjusts the TSD for these to the effective year (2020 in this example), making the products "2020 capable fuels." More information about capable fuels can be found at https://www.landfire.gov/lf_remap.php.