(FVS) and Suppose Interface (2013 revision)
Contents
1. Litter Duft N m Fill in the required fields in bold faced text along with any other fields for which you have data e g Grouping Codes or Site Index and the Site Species Since the data are exactly the same as in the old stand list file approach see items 7 15 on the instructions below Option B for an explanation of the various fields As with the tree data many fields are optional Note that you can hover the cursor over the labels above the boxes and see an explanation for each field Important The key linkage between the Stand Table and the Tree Table is the Stand_ID field in both tables This is the first box in the input form above labeled Unique Stand Identifier This is read as text even if you use numbers so make sure you use exactly the same characters as you did in this field of the Treelnit table Last Step Add your database name to the SQL query language Once you have your tree and stand data successfully entered into the respective Access Tables save the database using the File Save Database As commands on the main menu bar The final step is to change the blank_database name to your specific database name in the FVS_GroupAddFielsAndKeywords table Here just double click on the Update Query Update Database Name in FVS_Groups Table and you will first get a warning respond yes and a notification that you re updating two rows in the table Open the FVS_GroupAddFielsAndKey2. E Simulation file contents Affected Stands 1E Stand Lab1 Lab1 B Group All_Stands Database Group s with no attached components SFR409_FVS mdb Group All StandsQL SELECT FROM FVS_StandInit WHERE Stand ID StandIDs EndSQL 4 Nothing is selected Cancel 4 Edit Simulation Edit Selection Delete Change Group Membership After Simulation Read FYS Outputs Generate Graphs Generate Reports If you get this far your simulation should work fine Option B Using Suppose s built in Data Editor 1 Open Suppose 2 On the Menu bar click Data Preparation Modify Create Locations 3 Suppose gives you a default file name Suppose loc which you can use if you want This will probably show in the Locations File box 4 Enter a descriptive name for the Location file in the Location Name box No spaces 5 Associate this Locations File with a Stand List File by clicking Browse and navigating to the Stand List File you want to use If you want to add other Stand List Files click Duplicate and repeat the steps above For silvicultural purposes we need only one locations file with a single Stand List file 13 6 Click Save As and give the file a unique name if desired Make sure to store the Locations File in the same subfolder as the Tree List and Stand List files by navigating there before you save the new fil
3. User s Guide to the Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS and Suppose Interface Robert Seymour Univ Maine School of Forest Resources SFR 409 Forest Ecology and Silviculture Lab Updated September 2003 2007 2010 2012 by R Seymour Further revised 2013 by R Seymour and N Rutenbeck to incorporate the Database Extension Comments are welcome please email to rseymour maine edu Introduction The Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS has become the national standard forest modeling system and has undergone extensive development by the USDA Forest Service Regional variants are currently available for anywhere in the United States and are continuously being modified and improved We will use the Northeast Variant developed in the late 1980s by scientists at the US Forest Service Northeastern Forest Experiment Station and revised many times since then FVS can be used to predict growth of individual stands or large forest areas depending on the objective In SFR 409 we will focus on stand level applications Information on FVS is available on its website http www fs fed us fmsc fvs index shtml from which all the software and much documentation can be downloaded The model was developed in the Rocky Mountain region and was known originally as PROGNOSIS See also Essential FVS A Users Guide to the Forest Vegetation Simulator by Gary Dixon a 228 page pdf file that covers all workings of the model quite thoroughly stored in the Class F
4. Ht Growth col 31 34 Crown ratio col 35 Damage code 1 col 36 37 Severity 1 col 38 39 Damage code 2 col 40 41 Severity 2 col 42 43 Damage code 3 col 44 45 A 4 digit plot identification no decimal allowed A 2 digit tree identification no decimal allowed FVS reads the plot and tree ID fields together as the tree ID A 6 digit real number is the number of trees represented by this data record also known as a tally decimal is allowed A 1 digit tree history code as follows 0 1 2 3 4 or 5 are live trees Code 6 or 7 trees died during mortality observation period code 8 or 9 died prior to mortality observation period A 3 character left justified species identification code The codes are different for each FVS variant A 4 digit real number is the DBH in inches metric variants code this value in cm If NO decimal is coded the value is interpreted as being in tenths of inches A 3 digit real number is the DBH in inches metric variants code this value in cm If NO decimal is coded the value is interpreted as being in tenths of inches or cm A 3 digit real number is the tree height in feet meters A 3 digit real number is the tree height to the point of top kill in feet decimeters This value is only used if there is a tree damage code of 96 or 97 coded for the tree A 3 digit real number is the height growth in feet meters If NO decimal is coded the value is interpreted as
5. species can appear on a single page In other words the PT2 output is more summarized than the PT1 tables which use 2 dbh classes When you re done with this FVSStand table generator close it by clicking the upper right Don t worry about closing this window prematurely you can always get this information back These tables are stored in editable formats in the FVSStand subfolder that is now attached to the subfolder where your data files are stored FVSStand creates this subfolder automatically As described above under the FVSStand post processor the PRT subfolder of FVSStand now contains these stand and stock tables labeled just as they are in the original view If you wanted to make a graph of the stand table in Excel for example this is where you would go to copy the relevant data Summary of Default File Types and Their Extensions For reference here is a list of all files types used by or created by FVS and Suppose with their default file extensions FVS FVS Input Tree List SLF FVS Stand List File LOC FVS Locations File KEY FVS Simulation File TRL FVS Output Tree List OUT FVS Output File FST FVS Stand Input File PT1 FVSStand Output1 PT2 FVSStand Output2 SVS SVS Tree List open with SVS Note if the last part of the file name of an SVS file is _ index opening this file will automatically capture all images from a particular simulation You can make your Detailed File Folder View in Exp
6. Address E http www Fs fed us fmsc Fvs data fileformat php fvs Advanced Search FYS Home Description Documents Software Data File Format Support Training FYS Links Search Q web Ppbictionary X Shoppa Q Travel eames adzapper Home FVS Measurement SDU Contact Links What s New Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS and Suppose File Formats Suppose and FYS use three different types of files The first is a FYS formatted file and the second and third are specific to Suppose Each has a different file extension 1 EMS Tree Data File lt fillename gt fys 2 Suppose Stand List File lt filename gt slf 3 Suppose Locations File lt filename gt loc Most Forest Service Regions have data translators that format regional specific data into Suppose and FYS formatted files Examples of these regional specific translators are R1 EDIT RMSTAND RSTRANS RETRANS SUPERSTAND RITRANS and Pre Suppose FYS Tree Data Input Format Each stand or inventory plot has its own FVS tree data input file Each tree or group of similar trees on a plot has an entry in the file There are no distinguishing record type names in the FYS tree data input files but the data must follow a specific format Tree data items must be in defined columns as described below FORTRAN Data Type FORTRAN Eonnnt Description Columns 1 4 Integer l4 Plot Identification i e plot numbers 5 7 Integer Tree identificatio
7. GROWTH PLUS INGROWTH TREES THAT GREW SUFFICIENTLY TO QUALIFY AS MERCHANTABLE VOLUME TABLE 1 3 HARVE TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE HARVEST VALUES TREES DBH HGT BA amp VOLUME BY GROWTH MEASUREMENT PERIOD HARVEST DATA IS DISPLAYED AROUND BEGINNING GMP DIAMETER CLASSES AND IS ON A PER ACRE BASIS VOLUME FIGURES ARE LISTED AS NET VALUES AS APPLICABLE TABLE 1 4 MORTALITY TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE MORTALITY VALUES TREES DBH HCT BA amp VOLUME BY GROWTH MEASUREMENT PERIOD MORTALITY DATA IS DISPLAYED AROUND BEGINNING GMP DIAMETER CLASSES AND IS ON A PER ACRE BASIS VOLUME FIGURES ARE LISTED AS NET VALUES AS APPLICABLE bh calibr Page Zoom Print lof 4 xia 2l m a Document Page Setup Printer Page Mstont 7 EK FS PR E Using Suppose doc A Suppose 1 12 HB Finished Pias FVSSTAND Alone Ge JIN SVS PlotA _001 evs S FVSSTAND Alone ONARA LERO 321M Figure 6 Output screen from FVSSTAND alone e Harvest may be zero if no cutting is done e Mortality There will be one table for each species present if you checked this option on the FVSStand Wizard the default To scroll through all the tables use the slider bar at the lower left corner of the screen arrow C You can print any or all tables using the print buttons at the bottom middle arrow D 20 The PT2 tables are organized similarly but information is grouped by broader dbh classes and many
8. been selected Before making a run it s always a good idea to look here first and delete any stands options or keywords that you don t want If you re not sure what a particular line in the window refers to highlight it and click on Edit Selection at the bottom left of this screen This will take you to the input menu for that item This information is all stored in the Simulation File key This file can be saved anytime under the File Save or Save As Menu or just before running the simulation when prompted by Suppose All output files are written to the same folder that the Simulation File is stored in so make sure to specify the same subfolder as your input files tree list etc when prompted by Suppose Also you should always specify a new Simulation File name if you make changes and want to save the output files from previous runs otherwise FVS will overwrite them Simulation Output The Sequence of Actions while a Simulation Executes To run a simulation click the Run Simulation box Depending on what options you ve selected several things will then happen 1 The FVS growth simulator will run in a MS DOS Window No input is required just close the DOS window when the simulation is done If you want to capture this in a file add the TOSS postprocessor 2 If specified the SVS program will start and begin to grow trees in a window at the upper left of the screen No input is required just allow this to
9. finish You can come back later and use the Next Previous buttons to see how the stand will look in the future 3 If specified the FVSStand Wizard will open in yet another window and will ask you to specify options for the output tables Here type in a descriptive title select whether you want output for individual species etc Just look at each tab and respond accordingly Click Next and do the same for the Yield table output Just leave these boxes blank if you don t plan to use these yield tables later 4 FVSStand will then execute generating tables for each output interval When this is done close this window by clicking the X in the upper right 5 You should now see a screen that allows you to view and print the output tables generated by FVSStand Figure 6 6 If you re using the Database Extension you output some standard files to your input database or another output database using the DSOut keyword These options are covered in detail in the Database User s Manual Note in the upper left corner Arrow A the tabs labeled Yield Reports and Stand Tables This is the main toggle for the entire view For our purposes in SFR 409 we will use the Stand Tables almost exclusively so click on this tab 19 There are two types of Stand Tables labeled with file extensions PT1 and PT2 Notice that these repeat in pairs on the line across the top of the page Each pair represents a year of simulation output beginn
10. is only one tree then you can leave this box blank FVS assumes 1 unless an entry is made Enter the Height nearest foot and Crown ratio if measured or estimated Note in the Help file that the codes for the crown ratio are not ratios per se but integers that correspond to 10 increments If you ve taken increment cores in order to calibrate the model s growth functions then enter the 10 year diameter growth twice the radial growth in the DBH Growth box Enter any other data such as the Tree value class if recorded 1 Desirable tree 2 acceptable tree 3 live cull Enter any Damage Codes and their severity if recorded As described above use these fields for crown classes or crown class strata combinations by typing 55 as the Damage Code and assigning your own STS code Enter the Prescription code if you plan to use the Prescription Thinning option Note the prescription code will probably vary according to the simulation these can always be edited later after the basic data are input To enter a new tree click Duplicate to copy the data you ve just entered to the next tree record Increment the tree number by 1 and change anything else that is different You could also click the New button but then you have to enter everything again Repeat the steps above until the entire sample has been entered into the Tree List File Periodically after each plot click Save or Save As to save your changes t
11. itself by changing the generic suppose loc to something like SFR409 loc Do not change the loc suffix When you re done editing entering names hit the Save or OK button and the Location File should now be specific to your input database Important This is the file that you will open first to start a new simulation While you have Suppose running check to see that your new Locations File is working Click File Select Locations File and browse to select it Suppose will open the Select Simuation Stands window The left hand box should show your Location Name If you click on this and follow the procedure below under Select Simulation Stands you should see a From Database keyword in the left hand simulation file window once a stand has been selected Double click on this line and Suppose will open a window to the right with the SQL statements required to read your database which include the StandSQL and TreeSQL keywords Here the database is named SFR409_FVS shown immediately below the DSNIn line File Edit Data Preparation Simulation Preparation After Simulation Preferences Help Ell main oba JE E Edit From Database Simulation Preparation Name From Database Select Stands Set Time Scale Select Management Select Outputs Run Simulation Variables Operators FYS Functions Species 1 Stands Add Keywords Insert From File Select Post Processors Select Modifiers 2 Groups
12. S Service Center 36p Table 3 0 2 eam table structure used for initializing tree information when using the Char 8 Tree Species Code can be the FVS alpha code FIA code or USDA plant Diameter at Breast Height in inches Diameter is an alias for DBH im this Diameter version DG _ Float _ DBH Growth in inches not tenths ofinches Cd Ht Float __ Heightin feet et C C idzC Eee ee a HE eee pO eE e Tee of top ER e oe FVS documentation If the number is 10 99 the value is considered a percent live crown ous o Damage Code see the FVS documentation for details ee O O an H Slope Percentage on the plot where the tree was located Aspect in degrees on the plot where the tree was located sid aua o Aspect in degrees on the plot where the tree was located ot where the tree was located Important The key linkage between the Tree Table and the Stand Table described below is the Stand_ID field in both tables This is the first box in the input form labeled Stand Identifier This is read as text even if you use numbers so make sure you use exactly the same characters as you did in this field of the FVS_StandInit table Option B Using Suppose s built in Tree Data Editor If you do not want to MS Access you may also use Suppose s built in Tree Data Editor to create the initial tree list If you need explanations of the various input boxes click on the Help box in Suppose or refer to the Help File repro
13. are editable and can be copied to a spreadsheet or other application The SVS folder is populated only if SVS Linkages are requested on Step 2 of the FVSStand Wizard SVS SVS the Stand Visualization System allows you to display the tree list in various one or three dimensional views This can be very helpful in visualizing stand development over time or displaying the visual consequences of harvesting and silvicultural treatments It contains an interactive tree marking window with a little paint gun too and even has a tree designer to create your own custom tree forms SVS will run as an integral part of Suppose or as a stand alone application If you run it as part of Suppose it can greatly slow down the program execution If all you want is some tabular output or if you re still experimenting with a variety of silvicultural treatments where visuals don t help don t bother with it Plus currently there is no way to change certain SVS parameters such as the plot size default is 1 0 acre Creating SVS Output automatically with Suppose If you want to run SVS at the same time as FVS through Suppose then follow the steps above for FVSStand for invoking post processors Just select SVS in the Post processor window and then turn on its Keyword in the Use FVS Keywords box Files will be created automatically and stored as described below Creating SVS Output manually from output Tree Lists A more flexible way to run SVS once you v
14. being in tenths of feet or decimeters A 1 digit number is the crown ratio code as follows 1 1 10 2 11 20 3 21 30 4 31 40 5 41 50 6 51 60 7 61 70 8 71 80 9 81 100 A 2 digit number is damage code 1 of 3 See below for a table of damage and severity codes A 2 digit number is the severity code that corresponds to the damage code A 2 digit number is damage code 2 of 3 A 2 digit number is the severity code that corresponds to the damage code A 2 digit number is damage code 3 of 3 22 Severity 3 col 46 47 Tree value class col 48 Prescription code col 49 Plot slope col 50 51 Plot aspect col 52 54 Plot habitat PA col 55 57 Plot topo code col 58 Plot site prep col 59 A 2 digit number is the severity code that corresponds to the damage code Damage and severity coding Damage code 96 broken top and 97 dead top no severity code is used The point of broken top or top kill is coded in columns 28 30 Damage codes 61 Armillaria 62 Phelinnus 64 Annosus use these severity codes 1 there is a tree within 30 feet that has a deteriorating crown or is killed by the disease 2 the pathogen or a diagnostic symptom is detected and 3 crown deterioration observed Damage code 2 mountain pine beetle attack uses these severity codes 1 unsuccessful bole attack pitchout 2 strip attack 3 successful bole attack 4 topkill Damage code 3 Douglas fir beetle attack uses
15. cally index all the images for a particular simulation and allow you to display them in any order Files are handled and stored differently when you convert an FVS tree list to SVS manually using the Tree List Conversion option in SVS Here the individual image files will have extensions of 001 002 etc corresponding to each output interval The overall index file used to access these images has the same name as the output tree list trl file used to generate it but with the SVS file extension The letters index are not part of the file name as when FVS creates the file All these files will be in the same subfolder that contains the original FVS output tree list These SVS files are not really images but text files that contain the tree data necessary to create them You can see their format and content if you open a SVS file with WordPad If you want to save any image created by SVS for example for use in a PowerPoint presentation just click on File Save Image As and select the desired options save to file Windows bitmap etc In effect this permanently converts the tree data to a picture that no longer requires SVS to portray 18 Edit and Save the Simulation File This feature is a handy way to check exactly what options are selected in a particular simulation and to delete options that you don t want This screen is confusing but it does show the stands in the simulation and the keyword options that have
16. de NoTriple suppresses the automatic tripling of tree output records something the program does automatically if the tree list is small to avoid certain problems with random processes Invoke this to keep your tree list the same size as it is at the beginning NoAutoES suppresses automatic regeneration establishment Currently this includes only sprouting of certain hardwoods If small dbh hardwoods mysteriously show up in the future tree lists after cutting invoke this keyword to suppress them BFVolume and Volume redefines the merchantability limits for total and board foot volume tables This can be valuable for softwood species which tend to be used for sawlogs at much smaller diameters in Maine than in many other places TreeList and CutList produces an output file with the entire tree list living trees or harvested trees at the date s specified Necessary for using SVS and other custom post processing Select Post Processors Post processors are computer programs that use FVS output to produce tabular or visual summaries of the simulation results We will use two of these FVSStand and SVS FvsStand This program produces stand and stock tables growth harvest and mortality summaries by species for any future date This is the main program by which you learn what happened to the original stand and how any silvicultural prescriptions were implemented Thus you should almost always invoke this option because
17. des in the Grouping Codes box at the bottom of the screen 16 To add another stand to the Stand List File click Duplicate and change the FVS tree file name and any other items that differ such as the prism BAF year of origin or site index 17 When you re all done entering stand data click Save and you should get the message n stands output Create the Locations file loc The Locations File is meant to be a high level category to help FVS users organize their stand data at large spatial scales typically the landscape or larger For example a Location File could be a National Forest the Stand List files within the Locations File could be Ranger Districts within the forest and each Ranger District Stand List File could include many different compartments or stands FVS Tree Lists on the Ranger District When using the Database extension the locations file is necessary to tell FVS that you re using a database as input Type C records The default is Type A records which refer to the old text file structure Option A Using the Database Extension via Microsoft Access When the FVS software installs on your hard drive it creates folder FVSData Within this you will find a folder Blank Database which contains an Access data base with unpopulated tables and the file Suppose loc Copy both of these files to your working folder where you re storing input and output data for your particular project N
18. duced in Appendix A of this document Follow these steps 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Open Suppose On the Menu bar click Data Preparation Modify CreateTree Data File Before entering any data immediately name the file by clicking Save As and navigating to the special subfolder you ve created to store your data Type in a short descriptive name DO NOT INSERT SPACES IN THE FILE NAME Also you may find it convenient to maximize the Editor window so you can see the entire form at once Click on the Codes for variant List box and set the variant to Northeast Enter the Plot ID and Tree ID as numbers no letters or decimals allowed according to the way you organized your field notes Plot numbers do not need to run sequentially from 1 to n but tree numbers should do so within each plot Use 3 digit tree numbers as described above if you need to maintain unambiguous plot tree references If you ve tallied standing dead stems then enter the appropriate code see list box in the Tree History box If the tree is living leave this box blank Enter the Species using the codes shown in the list box at right If the variant is not changed to Northeast then the species list will be wrong Enter the dbh inches to the nearest tenth if measured If you ve made a dot tally by dbh classes i e for 1 4 saplings enter the number of stems of this size and species tallied in the Tree count box If the current entry
19. e settled on a particular scenario that you d like to illustrate is as a stand alone application SVS will convert FVS output tree lists to its own format and in the process you can change the plot size views and other things that can t be done via Suppose If you do plan to use SVS as a supplementary tool you must tell FVS to produce output tree lists for every time in the future that you want SVS to visualize To do this use the TreeList Keyword as follows 1 In Suppose click on the Use FVS Keywords box 2 Scroll down and double click on TreeList 3 Type the year that you want the TreeList in the Select Year box 4 You can leave all the other options with the default values unless you need to change them for some specific reason 17 5 Repeat steps 1 4 for each future year in which you want to produce a TreeList For example for output every 10 years for a 50 year simulation you would need 5 TreeList commands in the Simulation file 6 If you ve implemented any harvesting treatments you should also generate a CUTLIST list of cut trees for the years when treatments are implemented This will include the harvested trees in the overall output TreeList and allows SVS to display them as stumps or horizontal stems Follow the procedure for adding the TreeList Keyword only select CutList from the keyword list Once you ve finished a simulation you can then open SVS and convert this output tree list to SVS format F
20. e click on the Enter_Stand_Data Form and you will see the following 3 frmrvs_Stanainit Fvs_standinit Stand Data linked to FVS_Standinit Table add Record Unique Stand Identifier inventory Year _ variant Mode Type Helpful Hint Hold the Ctrl key and press the key to ontents fro i Delete Record Gi ing Codes Addfiles pauls S from previous All_ Stands Duplicate Record Keywords Previous Record NextRecord Location Information Close Form FS Regiom FS Forest Es peve FS Compartment on Location Lael tensive Sul cour Required Fields 7 Inventory Design Large Tree Plot Size Small Tree Plot Size Breakpoint DBH Number of Plots Non Stockable Plots Percent Stocking Sample Weight acres DG Translation Code DG Measurement Period HG Translation Code HG Measurement Period Mortality Measurement Period Site Information Ecoregion Plant Association Code PA Reference Code Forest Type Physiographic Region Maximum Basal Area Maximum SDI Slope _Aspect Elevation ft Steng Age Ste den Specie Ste se D Fuel Information Photo Reference Photo Series Code Fuel Model Hard Sound Fuel 0 0 0 25 0 25 1 0 1 0 3 0 3 0 6 0 _6 0 12 0 12 0 20 0 20 0 35 0 35 0 50 0 gt 50 Soft Rotten Fuel _0 0 0 25 _0 25 1 0 1 0 3 0 _3 0 6 0 _6 0 12 0 12 0 20 0 20 0 35 0 35 0 50 0 gt 50
21. e name Running a Simulation Select Simulation Stands Once you ve created the Tree List Stand List and Locations Files or created these tables in your Database you re ready to run a simulation First you must tell Suppose which Stand or Stands to include in the simulation as follows 1 Open Suppose 2 If you have previously created a Simulation File key to store various run options then open this first by clicking on File Open and navigating to the appropriate file Note that the Open Save and Save As commands on the File menu apply to the Simulation file not to the Locations File which has its own open command If you re constructing a new simulation skip this step Suppose will allow you to save the simulation file just before you click Run Simulation 3 Under File on the Menu bar click Select Locations File 4 Navigate to the subfolder that holds the correct Locations file and double click to activate 5 Click on the Select Simulation Stands button and you should see three columns The left column should now be headed by the Location Name you assigned to this Locations file 6 Click the All Stands button at the bottom of the third column The box above should now be filled with the Stand Names that are linked to each Tree List file There may be only one if that s all you ve entered in the Stand List file 7 Inthe right hand column highlight a Stand or Stands that you want to inc
22. e tables actually the tables are hidden creating confusion about exactly what you might be editing So I strongly recommend that you get rid of this Custom view with the following two steps 1 Click on the down arrow on the right side of the box that says Custom and you should see the following aim EB FVS_Tr Navigate To Category M Custom Object Type Tables and Related Views Created Date Modified Date Filter By Group FVS Tables FVS Data Entry Forms macros must be enabled Edit FVS_GroupAddfilesAndKeywords Table macros must be enabled show all Check the Object Type line below Custom and then the bottom line All Access Objects and you will see the standard Access view where Tables Queries and other Objects are clearly grouped under headings All Access Objects Tables E FVS_GroupAddFilesAndKeywords gt gt E Fvs_Standinit E FVS_Treelnit E Fvs_Plotinit Queries gt gt Update Database Name in FVS_Groups Table Forms 3 Enter_Stand_Data gt gt E3 Enter_Plot_Data a 3 Enter_Tree_Data Save your database under some name descriptive of your project e g SFR409_FVS mdb and you re ready to proceed If you re new to Access then a brief lesson in Objects is in order Access stores all its data in TABLES which appear here under the custom bar FVS Tables Tree data are stored in the FVS_TreeInit table stand data are
23. ed table back into Access Another even simpler option is to rename the columns in your existing Excel worksheet to correspond exactly with those in the table below then import The Table 3 0 2 on the next page from the Database manual shows all the possible variables than can be recorded for each tree in the sample In practice only a few are required the Stand_ID Tree_ID Species and DBH Other fields are optional and can be left blank or even omitted Some may not even be used or available for some FVS regional variants For example the Northeast variant does not currently use the CrRatio field unlike many of the other variants Most of these variables are probably self explanatory and are the same as used in the old tree list file See Appendix A in this document or the discussion below Option B for a further elaboration on what these variables mean Make sure to use the correct two letter species codes which may differ among regions These can be found in the Enter_Tree_Data form or in Table 3 2 1 in the documentation manual for the Northeast Variant Keyser Chad E comp United States Northeast N E 2008 revised July 29 Apiculture 2010 Northeast NE Forest Service Variant Overview Variant Overview Forest Forest Management Vegetation Simulator eae Forest Vegetation Simulator Internal Rep Fort Collins _ CO U S Department of Revised Agriculture Forest Service July 2010 Forest Management B
24. ext open the Suppose Interface program On the main menu bar click Data Preparation then Modify Create Locations File Check the third radio button in the list just below the suppose loc box labeled Edit records that define Locations using Databases Type C You will see the following window File Edit Data Preparation Simulation Preparation After Simulation Preferences Help E vain E Edit Locations File cs Jer Jes Jes Simulation Pri Locations File suppose loc Browse Select Stan Edit records that define Locations using Stand List Files Type A C Edit records that define Group Codes and AddFiles Type B fds Edit records that define Locations using Databases Type C Add Keywo Record 1 of 1 lt lt Previous Next gt gt New Delete Duplicate Location Name Blank DataBase Data Source Blank_Database mdb Browse User Name Password ooo Ok Save Save As Cancel I In the Location Name box enter any descriptive term s that identify your project typically a forest or woodlot that contains multiple stands e g SFR409_Labs Next rename or browse for the database that contains your input data and make sure the Data Source box contains this file name It s a good idea to include the path here too especially if you re using multiple folders You may also want to 12 rename the location file
25. in the FVS_Standinit table Both are required The FVS_Plotinit table is optional and used only if you want to grow each plot separately in the simulation The FVS_GroupAddFilesAndKeywords table contains the essential SQL programming code which tells the Suppose program where to locate tree and stand data The Update Query Update Database Name in FVS_Groups Table inserts the name of your specific database in place of the Blank_Database names in the SQL code Do NOT rename these tables Names are used for other programming tasks which won t work if you change them The Forest Service has developed Access FORMS which use macros to allow you to enter data conveniently If you re starting from scratch with a small dataset then these forms can be useful and we recommend starting with them as you re learning If you already have your data in some kind of table like an Excel Worksheet then you can IMPORT this file to the database using Access s External Data function renaming it as appropriate and bypassing this built in editor If you import a table from Excel or other source then the column headings the variable names used by the FVS model must be exactly those specified in the FVS_Treelnit table The simplest way to ensure that this happens is to EXPORT the FVS_Treelnit table as an Excel file then enter your data as you would in any other analytical project using Excel Once the data are entered you can then IMPORT the populat
26. ing with the initial conditions the 00 labels at the far left Because the leftmost tab on the second row is highlighted arrow B the view above shows the contents of the 4 part PT1 tables e Stand and stock tables 2 dbh classes e Growth FVSSTAND Alone Print Preview Yield Reports Stand Tables Draw WinS S P1ot00 PT1 pioeoo Prz plocor Af1 Pice01 Prz prceoz pT1 P1otoz PT2 Pprce03 P71 Protos pre Pioco4 PTi Proto4 pT2 Piotos PTi P1otos pT2 Protos pti PLocos PTz P1oco7 P14 gt c FVs UnivFor WPePlots Fvsstand prt Plot00 PT1 Plot A8 University Forest me an 02 22 2000 MEASUREMENT LENGTH 10 00 YEARS l STAND PROJECTION ANALYSIS TABLE 1 1 STAND TABL TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE STAND AND STOCK VALUES TREES DEH HGT BA amp VOLUME FOR SURVIVOR TREES BY MEASUREMENT DATE ESSENTIALLY THIS TABLE PORTRAYS THE LIVE TREE STAND AS IT EXISTS AT EACH POINT IN TIME ALL VALUES EXCEPT AVERAGE DIAMETER AND HEIGHT ARE DISPLAYED ON A PER ACRE BASIS VOLUME FIGURES AS APPLICABLE ARE PRESENTED AS NET VALUES DEFECT IS SEEN OR CRUISE DEFECT AND DOES NOT INCLUDE FACTORS FOR BREAKAGE OR HIDDEN DEFECT CUBIC DEFECT IS BASED ON ALL TREES TABLE 1 2 GROWTH TABLE TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE GROWTH VALUES TREES DEH HGT BA amp VOLUME BY GROWTH MEASUREMENT PERIOD GROWTH DATA IS DISPLAYED AROUND BEGINNING GMP DIAMETER CLASSES AND IS ON A PER ACRE BASIS GROWTH IS DEFINED AS ACCRETION SURVIVOR TREE
27. itor window so you can see the entire form at once 3 If this is a new Stand List file give the file a name as follows 10 10 11 12 13 14 e Click the Browse button to the right of the Stand List File box and navigate to the folder where you keep all your FVS files If this is the first slf file in this folder then type a name in the File name box DO NOT INSERT SPACES IN THE FILE NAME Hit return and then proceed to enter data as described below If you get an error message that says Suppose cannot open this file just ignore it and proceed to enter data e If there are already slf files in this folder you can click on one of them then edit its name in the box Type a descriptive identifier in the Stand ID box This name will show up later in Suppose s Select Simulation Stands window when you put together a simulation Link this particular stand or plot to its corresponding tree list i e its FVS file by clicking on the Browse button to the right of the FVS tree file box Find the file and double click to fill in the box Unless you measured site index separately for each PLOT make sure the FVS tree data contains NO plot level site data button is activated filled in Change the FVS Variant code to ne Northeast Enter a descriptive name in the Stand ID field called Unique Stand Identifier in Access Enter the inventory year 4 digits Enter the Loca
28. l also give FVS the database name and add SQL code under the From Database keyword to read the tree and stand data 4 Click the Select Simulation Stands menu and make sure the correct stands are in the simulation If you have problems here edit the Locations and Stand List files to ensure they refer to the correct subfolders and file names 5 Click Set Time Scale to verify that the simulation length and output intervals are OK 6 If you want output tables click Select Post Processors to make sure you ve selected FVSStand and SVS if you want to generate visuals from FVS 7 Click Use FVS Keywords to select FVSStand along with any other keyword you wish to invoke Select the NoTriples keyword to avoid tripling tree output records 8 Ifyou want to run SVS as a stand alone application make sure to select the TreeList and CutList keywords multiple times every future output date to generate the necessary tree output records This is not necessary just to run FVSStand 9 Click Management Actions and specify the silvicultural treatments you want to apply 10 Click Edit Simulation File and verify that everything is correct 11 Click Run Simulation to invoke the FVS simulator and post processors 12 Examine and print if desired the output tables from FVSStand or other post processors Output files should all be written to the subfolder where the Simulation file was saved and to the Output Database if using this
29. lorer much more readable if you take the time to add these file extensions to the Registered list on your computer This is easily done by opening Explorer setting the View to Details and following these steps 1 Inthe right hand window double click on any file with the extension above If this file does not already have a registered description Explorer will Display the Open with box 2 Inthe Description of nnn files box type in a file description from the above list 3 Make sure the Always use this program box is checked 4 Scroll down and double click the WordPad icon This will permanently associate this file type with WordPad and show the new description in the Explorer Details view 5 Repeat the steps above until you ve named all the FVS file types 21 Appendix A The Tree Data Editor Help File The FVS Tree Data can be viewed edited or both using the Edit FVS Tree Data File window The contents of the tree data file are related to a stand by placing the name of the tree data file in Field 3 of Type A stand list file records A stand list file can be edited using the Edit Stand List File window Here is the format of the tree data records col columns Plot ID col 1 4 Tree ID col 5 7 Tree count col 8 13 Tree history col 14 Species col 15 17 DBH col 18 21 DBH Growth col 22 24 Height col 25 27 Height to topkill col 28 30
30. lude in the simulation 8 On the lower left part of the screen click Add n Stand n is the number highlighted 9 The message above this box should now read Contents n Stands where n is the number of stands included 10 Click Close to take you back to the main Suppose menu 11 The only way to see a list of stands selected for simulation in this menu is to click the Delete Stand button then click the down arrow on the drop down list box This will show all stands that will be grown by FVS Delete any that you don t want then Close You re now finished communicating Stand Data to Suppose You still need to specify other options such as how long you want the simulation to run what sort of output is needed what management treatments to apply and other factors Each of these has its own box 14 Set the Time Scale 1 On the main Suppose screen click the Set Time Scale box 2 The Common starting year should be the same as the Inventory year in the Tree List file 3 The Common cycle length determines how often output tables and graphs are produced Generally 10 years is the best choice here although there may be times when you want to specify 5 year or even 1 year output 4 The Common Ending Year determines how long the simulation will run This should be some multiple of the Cycle Length For example if you want to make a 50 year simulation beginning in 2000 then enter a Cycle Length of 10 years and 2050 fo
31. n i e unique for each tree record 8 13 Real Tree count number of sample trees this record represents can be more than one 14 Integer Tree history code 15 17 Character Species code can also enter the 3 digit Eastwide Database Species Code 18 21 Real Diameter at breast height nearest tenth of an inch outside bark 22 24 Real 25 27 Real Diameter increment nearest tenth of an inch inside bark Live height feet 28 30 Real 31 34 Real Height to top kill feet Height increment nearest tenth of a foot 35 nteger Crown ratio code nteger First pair of tree damage and severity codes nteger Second pair of tree damage and severity codes nteger Third pair of tree damage and severity codes nteger Tree value class code nteger Cut or leave prescription code nteger Plot slope percent code nteger Plot aspect code nteger Plot habitat type code nteger Plot topographic position code nteger Plot site preparation code 24
32. o the appropriate folder Create the Stand Data Table Database or Stand List File sIf text file The Stand List file tells FVS what sort of sampling method was used to collect the tree data and records other stand level information such as site index topographic variables and geographic location The Stand List File can also be used to combine individual plots or stands into user defined groups thereby avoiding the need to combine simulation output manually from several stands A Stand List file may include a reference to only a single tree list one stand or dozens of tree lists stands that users may wish to combine in various ways If desired Suppose will grow and manage each stand Tree List separately then combine the output into a single set of tables A common application would be a large woodlot with several different stands that warrant separate silvicultural treatments and growth projections but that you would eventually want to combine into a single set of output tables Option A Using the Database Extension via Microsoft Access Here we must populate the Access table FVS_Standinit As with the Treelnit table you can use the Enter_Stand_Data form or create the table yourself in Excel and import it into the database Because the number of stands is usually small sometimes only one it arguably makes more sense to just use the form below to enter the data Just open your Access database and doubl
33. older for SFR 409 General Guidelines File Management There are two basic and fundamentally different ways to run the FVS model 1 Creating input text files using the old built in editors or 2 via the Database Extension where all data are created and stored in tables within a Microsoft Access database The Forest Service has stopped supporting the first option and strongly urges all users to migrate to the Access approach This update includes instructions to do so and we will assume that students have access to the Access software This is not essential one can still use the old fashioned process to create and edit the input files also included here The Database Extension is fully described in the following manual available at the website given earlier Crookston Nicholas L Gammel Dennis L United States carte Users Guide to the Database Rebain Stephanie Robinson Donald peman Keyser Chad E 2003 revised August 19 a Extension of the Forest 2011 Users Guide to the Database Foret Managemen Vegetation Simulator Version Extension of the Forest Vegetation ch aaa Simulator Version 2 0 Internal Rep Fort Forcotnco 2 0 Collins CO U S Department of e Agriculture Forest Service Forest A Management Service Center 56p BS Regardless of how you create and store your input data simulations are assembled and executed with the SUPPOSE graphical interface using keywords Despite the ap
34. ollow these steps 1 On the SVS Main Menu bar click File New Stand 2 Click the fourth box Read FVS tree list file The program will probably open your main FVSbin folder and display a list of trl files These are the output tree lists generated by the TreeList Keyword Navigate to the appropriate subfolder and select the tree list you want to convert 3 Click the Convert file button in the lower left of the Convert an FVS tree list file box 4 Now you ll see a box headed FVS2SVS options The default plot size and spatial distribution of trees can be changed under the spatial pattern parameters options there are many other possibilities here 5 Click OK to complete the conversion SVS should now run and generate the first view on the screen SVS Output Files When you run SVS automatically as part of an FVS simulation it will create tree list images for every output interval without specifying the TreeList keyword Each of these will be a separate file with extension SVS During the run FVS creates a new subfolder that has the same name as the simulation file and stores the individual image files there This subfolder is attached to the original parent folder where the TreeList Simulation and other files are stored In this original parent folder you will now find a file named name_index svs where name is the name of the simulation key file If you open this index file with SVS it will automati
35. option To avoid confusion review the FVS file types and their extensions and set your computer to recognize them in the Explorer Details View Creating and Editing Input Data Create the Tree Data Table Database or Tree List File fvs text file The Tree List File is the place where all the tree measurements taken in the field are stored At minimum FVS needs a tree number plot number species and dbh Users can also input total height live crown ratio recent dbh and height growth various condition codes and other variables if these are measured or estimated The model will accept trees as small as 0 1 inches dbh and assumes English units Option A Using the Database Extension via Microsoft Access Open the Blank_Database and you should see the following Home Create External Data Database Tools a a v a amp Vie Clipboard Sort amp Records Find Sizeto Switch Text X Filter 7 v z Fit Form Windows Formatting Views Window Custom FVS Tables 2 Fvs_standinit ace Fv5_Plotinit ace FVv5_Treelnit BE FVS_GroupAddFilesAndKeywords FVS Data Entry Forms macros must be enabled E3 Enter_Stand_Data a2 Enter_Plot_Data Optional E3 Enter_Tree_Data Edit FVS_GroupAddfilesAndKeywords Table macros 4 At this writing Sept 2013 one very confusing aspect of this Blank Database is the use of shortcuts for the critical tables Although the heading says these ar
36. ow the actual trees and volumes harvested and the post harvest tables will match the residual stand Once you get the prescription exactly the way you want it then increase the simulation length and output intervals to longer periods If you use 5 or 10 year output then all the harvest data will be annual averages and you ll need to multiply them by the length of the period to get the correct totals Also the post harvest stand will include some growth on the residual trees so you ll never know exactly what the residual BA or TPA was for example Use FVS Keywords FVS is an extraordinarily flexible program that can be customized extensively through the use of Keywords The Keyword Manual is nearly 100 pages long and contains seven categories of keywords e Program Control e Stand and Tree Information e Growth and Mortality Modifiers 15 e Thinning e Volume Controls e Input Output Control e Extensions The Use FVS Keywords Category box uses 9 similar categories to help narrow down the number of options There is some overlap among these categories and with the Management Actions box on the main menu Clicking on a keyword in the right column gives a short description of its purpose but you must read the more detailed description in the manual to understand fully how to apply it Sometimes the input screen for the specific keyword is self explanatory A few commonly used keywords in addition to the post processors below inclu
37. pearance of being a fully functional Windows application Suppose has a few artifacts remaining from its original MS DOS heritage The most serious one is that it cannot handle blanks in file names or subfolder names Never include spaces in the name of any file or subfolder Try to keep names short and use the underbar character _ if you must break up long names into intelligible segments If you encounter problems with tree lists that seem to be blank then it s likely that you ve got a space somewhere in a subfolder name or file name Suppose will read only to the blank space and won t recognize the portion of the file name afterwards Downloading the FVS Software from the FVS Website checked Sept 13 2013 Steps 1 Open a web browser and navigate to http www fs fed us fmsc fvs index shtml Be Edt yew Favores boos bieb te We E newyork tmes Crossword A NNS Weather Forecasts for Chase Visa 8 UCU Home Banking IE kencuctnag Row P PeopleSoft Logn MHLMS Home i Stone Mountan Arts Center P MaCKRO Home Page USDA Forest Servo Forest Vegetaton Seulator FVS Forest Vegetation Simulator FOREST SERVICE a ee Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS The Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS is the USDA Forest Service s nationally supported framework for forest growth and yield modeling This is your source of information support and software for FVS and related programs Description Information about the Fo
38. r the ending year 5 Hit OK to return to the main menu screen Management Actions If you just want to grow the stand without managing it then you can ignore this option This is where you indicate what treatments if any are to be applied to the Stands This topic warrants a separate Handout the best single reference here is Evaluating Stand Density Management Alternatives Using the Forest Vegetation Simulator Dixon 1998 Generally we have found the most flexible options to be Traditional FVS Thinning using either the Thin from a specific diameter range or Thin individually marked trees options We will give you further guidance on how to implement these and other options in the handouts for specific lab exercises All the traditional FVS Thinning options are fully described in the FVS Keyword Manual If you have more than one stand in a simulation Suppose will apply any keywords including management actions to ALL stands unless you direct it to do otherwise To apply a treatment to a specific stand first right click on it then select the keyword s and enter its parameters When you right click to select a stand in this fashion its name will turn RED in the Edit Simulation Screen indicating that any keywords now apply just to it Hint If you re experimenting with various silvicultural treatments then consider making only a 2 year simulation with a 1 year output interval This way the FVSStand tables produced will sh
39. rest Vegetation Simulator modeling system and its components Documents A variety of FVS related documents Software FVS and related software Data Description of the forest inventory or stand examination data needed to run FVS Support Online resources and how to contact us with your questions or problems regarding the Forest Vegetation Simulator software suite Training We offer FVS training sessions annually throughout the United States FVS Steering Team Description of the goals and purpose of the FVS Steering Team FVS Related Links Other websites related to the Forest Vegetation Simulator 2 Click on the Software heading 3 Click on the Complete Package link 4 Under Download simply click on the FVS_Setup exe and save this Download to your desktop Double click this exe file and hit Run to install the program code and related files If you have an older version of the software the Install will write over it 5 There should now be a FVS Suppose icon on your desktop When you download the FVS software two folders are created C FVSbin where all the program files are stored and C FVSData where your input and output data are stored Because use FVS for multiple classes and projects make subfolders under FVSData to keep files separated The software installer will also create a folder Blank Database in the FVSdata Folder In this folder you will find the MS Acce
40. ss database Blank_Database mdb along with the file Suppose loc The necessary FVS Locations File The instructions that follow will use this Blank Database as a starting point By default output files will be sent to the folder where the input files are stored This is governed by the subfolder that holds the Simulation File key The Simulation file is created when you click on the Run Simulation bar at which point you can give it a unique name and subfolder Simulation files are discussed in more detail below Quick Overview and Checklist for Running an FVS Simulation This list is meant to be a quick reminder of the steps involved with using FVS to project the growth of a stand Each item is covered in more detail in the text follow the hyperlink to learn more about each item This list assumes you ve already created the Tree List Stand List and Locations Files using the various editors under the Data Preparation menu or have successfully entered your data into the predefined tables in a Microsoft Access database Instructions later in this document 1 Open Suppose 2 Open an existing Simulation file key if one exists File Open Skip to Step 4 3 If you re creating a new simulation then open the appropriate Locations File File Select Locations File This will automatically link the Stand List and Tree List files assuming the file references are correct If using the Database Extension this wil
41. there s really no other way to get model output The FVSStand program runs automatically if you activate it here prior to the simulation or it can be run as a stand alone program after the FVS simulation is completed To run FVSStand as part of an FVS Simulation 1 Click on the Select Post Processors box 2 Scroll down the Available post processors window until you see FVSSTAND Alone Generate Dynamic Yield Reports 16 3 Double click this line and it should now be listed in the middle window under included post processors Click Close to return to the main screen 4 Click on the Use FVS Keywords box 5 Inthe far right column under keyword scroll down until you see FVSStand Double click 6 If you want output only for a specific year then enter this year in the box If you want output at all future years a common option enter a zero in the year box as instructed in the first line of the screen Click OK to accept FVSStand creates a subordinate subfolder under the folder that contains the keyword file set used to run the simulation Within the FVSStand folder three sub folders are created The FLT folder contains yield flat files ASCII characters column delimited that are designed for spreadsheet importation Depending on the options selected during Step 3 of the FVSStand Wizard various columns and subtotals are reported The PRT folder contains the Stand and Stock Tables and growth summaries which
42. these severity codes 1 unsuccessful bole attack pitchout 2 strip attack 3 successful bole attack 4 topkill Damage code 30 dwarf mistletoe in some species 31 mistletoe in lodgepole pine 32 mistletoe in larch 33 mistletoe in Douglas fir and 34 mistletoe in ponderosa pine Use the Hawksworth rating 0 6 for severity A 1 digit number is the tree value cod were 1 desirable tree 2 acceptable tree and 3 live cull You can code an 8 to indicate that the plot is non stockable and all other values are interpreted as 3 A 1 digit prescription code where 1 or 0 is leave and other values mark the tree for removal A 2 digit slope in percent A 3 digit aspect in degrees A 3 digit plot habitat code If plant association is coded an index value must be used A 1 digit code is the plot topographic position where 1 bottom 2 lower 3 mid slope 4 upper slope and 5 ridge top A 1 digit site preparation code where 1 none 2 mechanical 3 burn and 4 road cuts road fills and other stockable road beds 23 Appendix A Tree List Format for FVS http www fs fed us fmsc fvs data fileformat php fvs Note This format is unnecessary if using the Database Extension but the variables are all the same Z USDA Forest Service Forest Management Service Center gt FYS gt Data gt File Format Microsoft Internet Explorer File Edit Yiew Favorites Q ex Q Help x 2 CA Search She Favorites Media 3 Se A law 3
43. tion Code as 922 for the White Mountain National Forest If this is an even aged stand and you know its year of origin enter this in the Stand year of origin box Enter the Basal area factor English units you used to cruise the stand You used fixed area plots instead of a prism then enter a minus sign followed by the inverse of the plot size For example if you used 0 1 acre plots enter 10 If you used a small fixed area plot to sample saplings then enter the inverse of the plot area in the Inverse of fixed plot size box Also in the break point diameter box enter the smallest dbh that was tallied on the large tree plots For example if you used a 10 BAF prism to tally overstory trees 4 6 dbh and larger and tallied saplings from 0 6 to 4 5 on a 0 01 acre circular plot then you would enter 10 100 4 6 in these boxes respectively Further instructions and explanation of these sample related data can be found under the DESIGN keyword in the FVS Keyword Manual Enter the stand site index if known and the species used to measure it in the appropriate boxes The rest of the data are strictly optional and not necessary to running a simulation One potentially valuable feature is the Group codes s box near the top of the screen Here you can enter a word or words codes that will later allow you to select simulation stands in the Suppose interface 11 15 Enter any grouping co
44. words table and you should see the following where your specific database name in the case SFR409_FVS mdb has been substituted at the arrows LS a 5c A Home Create ExternalData Database Tools Fields Table H c Es ai LY UB JT J of Text File m FS Oy acess Us rI 23 XML File sk SI YS Sa p Word Merge P Saved Excel Access ODBC Saved Excel Text XML PDF E mail Create Manage Imports Database More Exports File File or XPS E More v E mail Replies Import amp Link Export Collect Data All Access Objects J Tables 2 a E Fvs_GroupAddFilesAndkeywords E FVS_GroupAddFilesAndKeywords o a g Cvs stnane Groups Addfles Rewer EI FVS Treelnit All_Plots Database Update Database Name in FVS_Groups Table SELECT FROM FVS_Plotinit WHERE StandPlot_ID StandID EndsQu EE Enter_tree_Data hasa FROM FVS_Treelnit WHERE StandPlot_ID StandID EndsQu END Forms a E Fvs_Piotinit DSNIn ia SFR409_FVS mdb senes 3 StandsaL E Enter_Stand_Data E Enter_Plot_Data All_Stands Database FROM FVS_Standinit WHERE Stand_ID StandiD FROM FVS_Treelnit WHERE Stand_ID StandID EndsQL END Record 4 4 20f2 gt m de Wk NoFilter Search Option B Using Suppose s built in Stand Data Editor 1 Open Suppose 2 On the Menu bar click Data Preparation Modify Create Stand List file At this point maximize the Ed
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search