Our analysis uses inventory data combined with GIS information and satellite imagery, hypothesized management and silvicultural practices and various economic rules to define and evaluate the impact of various scenarios.
OPTIONS program keeps topology for polygons from up to 25 GIS layers. This information can be used with an external GIS system through links to individual basic polygons. Because it keeps polygon topology – it is possible to define combinations of constraints and targets for every spatial layer. GIS layers can be switched on and off – according to goals of the simulation.
The current effort of this study will use a spatially explicit analysis on a subplot level. Instead of statewide summaries, individual polygons of various cover types will be constructed based on the FIA data, satellite images, and state GIS data. The future efforts will concentrate on increasing the resolution of the analysis, including the use of spatially explicit data with adjacency rules, and incorporating spatial information from various available GIS data and satellite images. The definitions of existing species groups, cover types, and management regimes, will be defined in much greater detail and growth and yield tables will be extended to all species groups and silviculture treatments. We will target the analysis to consider such regulatory constraints as introduction of riparian zones, maximum area harvesting limits, and adjacency and green-up constraints. The study of long-term wood supply in Georgia will also be conducted in conjunction with the study of wood quality and its spatial distribution in the context of the Georgia's biogeographical regions and climate patterns.
Through the GIS capabilities of OPTIONS we can track the carbon budget spatially over time to produce projected carbon pools. This capability will undoubtedly find utility for evaluating various management and policy decisions and their impact on carbon sequestration in forests.