About Heureka

((Languages))

((Languages | About Heureka))

New software for a multiple-use oriented forest management

The Heureka Forestry Decision Support System (DSS) is a suite of freely available softwares developed and hosted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The system covers the whole decision support process from data inventory to tools for selecting among plan alternatives with multi-criteria decision making techniques.

The vision is that the system should contribute to a more profitable and environmentally friendly forestry. The utilities handled by the system is timber production, recreation values, bilogical diversity, and carbon storage. By integrating these components in one system, a holistic planning approach can be taken on these issues.

Goods that the system can count on today:

• Timber production
• Amenities
• Conservation
• Carbon storage

The system is designed so that it will be relatively easy to add new functionality as new research results and models become available.

The system covers the entire analytical chain, from forest inventory plots, through predictive modeling and optimization, to tools to rank alternatives. The software is designed for both small and large forest and includes the following elements:

Heurekasystemet consists of seven different applications:

• Stand Wise: For stocks show analysis, 2D and 3D visualization. An interactive simulator where the user specifies the action to be carried up ladders and a forecast period of time.
• Plan Wise: In forestry planning, landscaping and removal estimates for small or large holdings in the short and long term. Maintenance Classes, Optimization, maps, charts, diagrams.
• PlanEval: Program to compare and rank the plans created in PlanVis.
• RegWise: The impact on the regional level. Hugin's successor.
• Plan Start: Tools for importing forest data, and prepare for field inventories.
• Iventare: Field Computer Application to inventory plots. Communicates with computer caliper, altimeter, GPS, and Postex (new instrument to coordinate the planting of trees).
• "Heureka Habitat Model": An ArcGIS program that reads data from and PlanVis RegVis, works out which stocks are appropriate area in each period, and save in a format that can be sent back to the Plan Wise and RegWise. Note: This software is not yet released.

== == Forecasts Forecasts can be made for a large amount of variables. These include eg

• Common variables such as forest growing stock and age
• Tree species distribution
• Recreation index
• Biomass
• In the carbon content of trees and soil
• Range of outcomes (logs, pulpwood and biofuel) by logging

All variables that forecasts can be made can also be displayed in maps, charts and tables.

== == Climatic Effects Forecast model can take account of how forests evolve under different climate scenarios.

Protection

In order to analyze different strategies for conservation adjustment scheme can count on and propose provisions, prescribed ex-forestry, and the provision of retention trees. The results of a conservation strategy can be evaluated with a specific ArcGIS program that calculates the area suitable habitat for a number of selected species (see below).

Optimization

The Plan Wise is a built-in tools for formulating and solving LP and MIP problems (linear programming with or without heltalsvillkor). The system is very flexible and all variables that the system may make projections can be easily inserted into an optimization model. An optimization model is saved in a file, making it easy for users to share and distribute the models. The great flexibility, while the relatively high demands on the user who should have basic knowledge of optimization methods. Has not it may use existing optimization models.

GIS functionality == == Built ==== ==== map display tool In PlanVis and RegVis is a proprietary map display tool. Thematic maps of the divided class variables and class variables can be displayed and you can step up to the time period in a plan.

Import of GIS data

Maps imported as shape files in the Start Plan. You can also import background images, such as orthophotos.

Spatial relationships ==== ==== The system provides a function to calculate the neighboring relations between the polygons, and a function to compute all permissible combinations of contiguous polygons that do not provide for an excessive amount of logging. The results of these calculations can be used in the optimization, if you want to avoid the large clearings.

==== ==== Habitat Model Habitat model is a standalone GIS module. It applies a kind of "Moving Window" algorithm which classifies land suitable habitat for a species as a function of the state forest. To a certain local habitats will be classified as necessary not only to forestry is appropriate, but also that there should be a certain amount of habitat in areas such as one square kilometer area around the room. Habitat model can be in one journey to make calculations for multiple plans, multiple time periods, and all six species there are models for the current situation.

Added value for forest owners and decision makers

Examples of benefits and added value that software can provide:

• Ability to develop targeted plans that directly reflect the objectives and requirements of the laying of its forestry
• Ability to compare different plan options with each other and choose the option that best meets the objectives
• Long planning horizon (Type 100 years) allows for long positioning in terms such as timber production, virkesförrådets development, and a number of non-economic values. In short, a tool for a practice that is sustainable in the long term
• Visualization of individual stocks and development of management options provides discussion and decision making
• Evaluation of various conservation strategies and their cost
• Increased return on forest capital
• Control of product flows in the short and long term

Examples of application: How to make a forest management plan with Heureka?

These systems have very modern user interface, but still makes quite heavy demands on the user, both in terms of computer skills and experience of forest estimates. The elaboration of a plan for a skogsfastighet consists of the following steps:

1. Import the stocks and forest registers map to a Heureka database using import functions in the Plan Start. Have PCskog there is an export function to Heureka from there.
2. Create a project in Plan Wise.
3. Split the woods in the forest domains (care groups).
4. Make settings for each forest domain, type of care to be simulated, etc.
5. Let the program calculate a variety of alternative care programs for each stock.
6. Use the built-in optimizer to formulate the objectives and constraints for forestry, as well as allow optimization model to develop a solution to the problem.
7. Detail Study plan in tables, diagrams and maps.
8. (Presumably) Change the conditions and make further optimizations, so that several alternative plans are obtained.
9. (Optional) Compare and rank the plans in the PlanEval.

== == Availability and Support ((:)) Availability