The LANDFIRE fuel data describe the composition and characteristics of both surface fuel and canopy fuel. Specific products include fire behavior fuel models, canopy bulk density (CBD), canopy base height (CBH), canopy cover (CC), canopy height (CH), and fuel loading models (FLMs). These data may be implemented within models to predict the behavior and effects of wildland fire. These data are useful for strategic fuel treatment prioritization and tactical assessment of fire behavior and effects. CC describes percent cover of tree canopy in a stand. A spatially-explicit map of canopy cover supplies information for fire behavior models such as FARSITE (Finney 1998) to determine surface fuel shading for calculating dead fuel moisture and for calculating wind reductions. In FARSITE, canopy characteristics are used to compute shading, wind reduction factors, spotting distances, crown fuel volume, spread characteristics of crown fires and incorporate the effects of ladder fuels for transitions from a surface to crown fire.

The LANDFIRE fuel data describe the composition and characteristics of both surface fuel and canopy fuel. Specific products include fire behavior fuel models, canopy bulk density (CBD), canopy base height (CBH), canopy cover (CC), canopy height (CH), and fuel loading models (FLMs). These data may be implemented within models to predict the behavior and effects of wildland fire. These data are useful for strategic fuel treatment prioritization and tactical assessment of fire behavior and effects. CC describes percent cover of tree canopy in a stand. A spatially-explicit map of canopy cover supplies information for fire behavior models such as FARSITE (Finney 1998) to determine surface fuel shading for calculating dead fuel moisture and for calculating wind reductions. In FARSITE, canopy characteristics are used to compute shading, wind reduction factors, spotting distances, crown fuel volume, spread characteristics of crown fires and incorporate the effects of ladder fuels for transitions from a surface to crown fire.

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand. CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. CC supplies information for fire behavior models to determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. To create this product, plot level CC values are calculated using the canopy fuel estimation software, Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). Pre-disturbance CC and Canopy Height (CH) are used as predictors of disturbed CC using a linear regression equation per Fuel Vegetation Type (FVT), disturbance type/severity, and time since disturbance. CC is used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). In LF 2022, fuel products are created with LF 2016 Remap vegetation in areas that were un-disturbed in the last ten years. To designate disturbed areas where CC 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's 2023 Update (LF 2023) Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand. CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In fire behavior models, CC supplies information to determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provides input in the spotting model, and aids in calculating wind reductions and fuel moisture conditioning. To create CC, LANDFIRE's Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) product must be produced first. EVC is a continuous scaled product which assigns cover to all life forms in the LF data, this product is created using an image-based process (within the Conterminous United States (CONUS)) to assess canopy structure for areas disturbed in the past twenty years. CC is then derived from EVC by assigning bins of 10% for fuel production and use in fire behavior software. CC is used in the calculation of Forest Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Base Height (CBH). To designate disturbed areas where CC is modified, the aggregated Annual Disturbance products from 2014 to 2023 in the LF Fuel Disturbance (FDist) product are used. All existing disturbances between 2014-2023 are represented in LF 2023, and the products are intended to be used in 2024 (the year of release). When using any product from the LF 2023 fuel product suite, users should consider adjusting fuel layers for disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2023 fiscal year (after October 1st, 2023). Disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2023 fiscal year are not accounted for within LF 2023 fuel products. Learn more about LF 2023 at https://www.landfire.gov/data/lf2023.

LANDFIRE's 2023 Update (LF 2023) Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand. CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In fire behavior models, CC supplies information to determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provides input in the spotting model, and aids in calculating wind reductions and fuel moisture conditioning. To create CC, LANDFIRE's Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) product must be produced first. EVC is a continuous scaled product which assigns cover to all life forms in the LF data, this product is created using an image-based process (within the Conterminous United States (CONUS)) to assess canopy structure for areas disturbed in the past twenty years. CC is then derived from EVC by assigning bins of 10% for fuel production and use in fire behavior software. CC is used in the calculation of Forest Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Base Height (CBH). To designate disturbed areas where CC is modified, the aggregated Annual Disturbance products from 2014 to 2023 in the LF Fuel Disturbance (FDist) product are used. All existing disturbances between 2014-2023 are represented in LF 2023, and the products are intended to be used in 2024 (the year of release). When using any product from the LF 2023 fuel product suite, users should consider adjusting fuel layers for disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2023 fiscal year (after October 1st, 2023). Disturbances that occurred after the end of the 2023 fiscal year are not accounted for within LF 2023 fuel products. Learn more about LF 2023 at https://www.landfire.gov/data/lf2023.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Remap Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand, CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In disturbed locations CC 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 Cover (FVC) 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 CC 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 CC, by providing information about vegetation impacted by a disturbance. Then, vegetation adjustments are modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CC is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CC supplies information to fire behavior models in order to; determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. CC also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculates TSD assignments for disturbed areas using an effective year. For example, year 2019 fuels may be calculated for the year 2019. This new process considers all the existing disturbances included in LF Remap and adjusts the TSD for these to the effective year (2019 in this example), making the products "2019 capable fuels." More information about capable fuels can be found at https://www.landfire.gov/lf_remap.php.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Remap Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand, CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In disturbed locations CC 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 Cover (FVC) 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 CC 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 CC, by providing information about vegetation impacted by a disturbance. Then, vegetation adjustments are modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CC is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CC supplies information to fire behavior models in order to; determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. CC also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculates TSD assignments for disturbed areas using an effective year. For example, year 2019 fuels may be calculated for the year 2019. This new process considers all the existing disturbances included in LF Remap and adjusts the TSD for these to the effective year (2019 in this example), making the products "2019 capable fuels." More information about capable fuels can be found at https://www.landfire.gov/lf_remap.php.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Remap Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand, CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In disturbed locations CC 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 Cover (FVC) 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 CC 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 CC, by providing information about vegetation impacted by a disturbance. Then, vegetation adjustments are modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CC is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CC supplies information to fire behavior models in order to; determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. CC also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculates 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.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Remap Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand, CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In disturbed locations CC 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 Cover (FVC) 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 CC 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 CC, by providing information about vegetation impacted by a disturbance. Then, vegetation adjustments are modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CC is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CC supplies information to fire behavior models in order to; determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. CC also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculates 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.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Remap Forest Canopy Cover (CC) describes the percent cover of the tree canopy in a stand, CC is a vertical projection of the tree canopy cover onto an imaginary horizontal plane. In disturbed locations CC 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 Cover (FVC) 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 CC 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 CC, by providing information about vegetation impacted by a disturbance. Then, vegetation adjustments are modeled in disturbance areas based on disturbance type and severity. CC is then used in the calculation of Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) and Canopy Base Height (CBH). CC supplies information to fire behavior models in order to; determine the probability of crown fire initiation, provide input in the spotting model, calculate wind reductions, and to calculate fuel moisture conditioning. CC also has capable fuels functionality. Capable fuels calculates 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.