MapModels: a new approach for spatial decision support in silvicultural decision making

Abstract

In forest management planning emphasis is being placed not only on timber production but also on values such as recreation, amenities, wildlife and the role of forests in securing sustained water resources. In the mountainous terrain of Austria, forests additionally provide protection against soil erosion and natural hazards such as avalanches and rockfall. Forest managers are challenged by the task to transform these forest management objectives into silvicultural prescriptions for a particular stand, when considering appropriate future species mixtures or silviculture measurements. Identification of management objectives at the stand level and evaluation of management practices which best meet these forest level goals require the development and application of models. Spatial decision support systems (SDSS) can be a valuable tool for analysis of such complex spatial decision problems in multiple purpose forest resource planning (e.g. Rauscher, 1999). In general terms, SDSS are computer-based systems for integrating data base management systems with analytical and operational research models, graphic display, tabular reporting capabilities and the expert knowledge of decision makers to assist in solving specific problems (Fischer et al., 1996). They include techniques for input, storage and processing of spatial information and provide output in spatial forms. Through a user-interface that is both powerful and easy-to-use data and models are combined in a flexible manner to allow for an operational evaluation and selection of decision alternatives