Mapping wildland fuels for fire management across multiple scales: Integrating remote sensing, GIS, and biophysical modeling

Fuel maps are essential for computing spatial fire hazard and risk and simu lating fire growth and intensity across a landscape. However, fuel mapping is an extremely difficult and complex process requiring expertise in remote ly sensed image classification. fire behavior, fuels modeling, ecology, and geographical information systems (GIS). This paper first presents the chal lenges of mapping fuels: canopy concealment, fuelbed complexity, fuel type diversity, fuel variability, and fuel model generalization. Then, four appr oaches to mapping fuels are discussed with examples provided from the liter ature: (1) field reconnaissance; (2) direct mapping methods; (3) indirect m apping methods; and (4) gradient modeling. A fuel mapping method is propose d that uses current remote sensing and image processing technology. Future fuel mapping needs are also discussed which include better field data and f uel models, accurate GIS reference layers, improved satellite imagery, and comprehensive ecosystem models.