Abstract Title
Digitization of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Towards Understanding Wildfire from a Social-Ecological Perspective
Additional Funding Sources
This project was made possible by the NSF Idaho EPSCoR Program and by the National Science Foundation under Award No. OIA-1757324.
Abstract
In terms of development, the expeditious growth in population within the Intermountain West region, specifically the Snake River Plain, has dramatically affected natural wildfire patterns and; sagebrush ecosystems, and has escalated hazardous human exposure to wildfires. In efforts to quantify the impact of that development, creating detailed maps is necessary to accurately analyze a specific region in relation to fire risk. While existing maps of development generated using satellite imagery allows for the ability to quickly observe/measure development in a given area, the expansion of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and the associated risks calls the need for precise spatial data that represents low density objects/developments that are not well-captured in existing maps. As a result we have utilized an open source digitizing software, QGIS, to generate new maps, specifically within the Owyhee and Teton Valley regions in the state of Idaho. Upon completion of digitizing these regions, the data collected will be used in efforts to expand the spatial extent of the maps, and to train and validate a model that accurately captures built infrastructures. The intention behind this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between WUI areas and wildfire from a spatial-temporal perspective.
Digitization of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Towards Understanding Wildfire from a Social-Ecological Perspective
In terms of development, the expeditious growth in population within the Intermountain West region, specifically the Snake River Plain, has dramatically affected natural wildfire patterns and; sagebrush ecosystems, and has escalated hazardous human exposure to wildfires. In efforts to quantify the impact of that development, creating detailed maps is necessary to accurately analyze a specific region in relation to fire risk. While existing maps of development generated using satellite imagery allows for the ability to quickly observe/measure development in a given area, the expansion of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and the associated risks calls the need for precise spatial data that represents low density objects/developments that are not well-captured in existing maps. As a result we have utilized an open source digitizing software, QGIS, to generate new maps, specifically within the Owyhee and Teton Valley regions in the state of Idaho. Upon completion of digitizing these regions, the data collected will be used in efforts to expand the spatial extent of the maps, and to train and validate a model that accurately captures built infrastructures. The intention behind this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between WUI areas and wildfire from a spatial-temporal perspective.