Version 2.3.0
Version 2.3.0
2015-06-11
Summary
Version 2.3 contains a number of new features:
- (Beta) Forest data can now be imported according to the new ForeStand standard (http://www.sis.se/tk538. ). The import function currently allows importing stand data and GIS data from only one file. Also plot data and tree data will be supported in future versions of the ForeStand import.
- A new plugin-mechanism allows modellers with C# programming skills to use their own models in Heureka. The plugin feature currently supports growth, volume, mortality and height models.
- The default decay rates for dead wood has been changed.
- Dead trees can be imported from TreeList-importer.
- You can define diameter classes for dead trees and include these as a result in simulations.
New features
Dead trees possible to add when importing tree list data
Until now, dead trees measured in the field has only been possible to import when the inventory has been made with an FMPP field computer (or with custom import utilities for NFI data). Now it is also possible to add dead trees registration to the Excel-sheet template used for tree list import. In the sheet Trees, two new (optional) columns has been added: Status and DecayClass. Status is blank, 0 or 1 for living trees, 2 for dead standing tree, 3 for dead lying tree, and 4 for dead tree if the position is unknown. DecayClass is set to 0-4, or left blank. If left blank, Heureka will distribute the dead tree volumes into decay classes automatically. The same applies if the species field is left blank - Heureka will then distribute the dead wood volume in proportion to the species distribution of the living trees. If the tree height/length for a dead tree or log is left blank, there are new functions to calculate the dead wood volume.
In the Dead Wood control table, you can define how many decay classes that have been inventoried. For example, if only classes less decayed than class 2 has been inventoried and whether the volume should be estimated for the remaining classes.
Default decay rates changed
Lately, the amount of dead wood is a function that has been used in a number of projects. It appears that the amount of dead wood accumulated over time according to a Heureka prognosis may be overestimated. The amount of dead wood is a function of mortality rates and decay rates. The decay rate are user-defined, and are by default 1.3 % per year for dead wood volume, and 4 % per year for dead wood biomass. The values have been retrieved from Table 2 in Harmon, Krankina & Sexton (2000), "Decomposition vectors: a new approach to estimating woody detritus decomposition dynamics". It is not clear why that specific table was selected (12 years ago). The new default values have been retrieved from Table 3 instead and gives a little higher decay rates and a little less accumulation of dead wood. The decay is now driven by the density decay rates instead of the biomass decay rates. Note however that this part is quite uncertain and needs further investigation. So please pay attention to these uncertainties when analysing results in dead wood and carbon contents in dead wood.
Beta: Import data using new forest data standard
(Beta) Stand register data can be imported as XML-files formatted according the new ForeStand standard (http://www.sis.se/tk538). This allows for importing stand data and GIS data from the same file. It also allows for importing tree layers and different tree species in a more flexible way than the ordinary Stand Register importer.
Plugin framework
There is a new folder under My Documents > Heureka > Common called "Plugins". A programmer can implement one of Heureka's C# interfaces available (currently for tree growth, tree volume, tree mortality and tree height). When you start a Heureka application, this folder will be scanned for dll-files that implement any of these interfaces. If found, the name of the function will be available in the Production Model control table, and used in simulations if selected.
Mortality data by user-defined diameter classes
A new result type has been introduced that allows the user to set up diameter classes for dead wood of different species and view a number of result properties for these classes. These settings can be accessed from the 'Dead Wood' control table, under 'Mortality Diameter Classes'. These results can then be included in simulations by checking the results group 'Mortality per diameter class'.
FAQ:s on the Start Page
A new Frequentenly Asked Questions page has been added to the Heureka Wiki. It is also displayed on the start pages in the applications. See FAQ.
Bug fixes
Fixed: Null values in conditions were not handled
Fixed: If you formulated a condition in the forest domain builder and used IS NULL or IS NOT NULL as part of the expression the evaluation failed.
Fixed: Simulation sometimes crashed
Fixed: In PlanWise and RegWise, parallelization is used to minimize execution times, so that more than one CPU-core is used if available. Sometimes, there would be a conflict when different so called threads were writing to the Output progress window at the exact same time. This would result in e runtime exception error.
Fixed: Copy/paste data in Timber price-lists now works as intended
Fixed: In the timber price-list editor, the 'Copy' and 'Paste' actions would always apply to the price-list grid, even if the user was working in one of the other grids. These actions now work as expected.
Fixed: Importing stand register data with InventoryYear earlier than 1995 rasied an exception
Fixed: Inventory years before 1995 in the stand register import data is now allowed.
Other improvements
Captions added to buttons
To make life easier for the user, text labels has been added to several tool buttons in the applications user interfaces.
Prompting for saving of price-list better implemented
New projects no longer ask the user where to save the price-list, if the default price-list is used. Only when changes have been made to the price-list the user will be asked for this information. <feedDate>2015-06-11/feedDate>
Dead wood is now viewable in initial state
Dead wood is back as a viewable result type in initial state. <feedDate>2015-06-11/feedDate>