Analytical Methodology

Abstract

The field data collected using the methods described in the preceding chapter were used to construct the gradient vegetation and fuel models and the resource and fire management model. The environmental gradients, and hence the gradient models, were derived solely from the vegetation data. Once the gradient framework was established, the distribution of flammable fuels on these gradients was determined. This chapter describes the analytical procedures used to tabulate and reduce these data and to construct the gradient models. The reduction and tabulation of the results of other field work required for the management and fire model, including the shrub dimension analysis, fuel moisture and microclimate study, infrared photography, and fire behavior monitoring, are discussed in Section III.