Publications [#64953] of Sidney A Simon

Papers Published

1. Fels, J.E. and Simon, S.A. and McNab, W.H., Simulation and mapping of potential vegetation in the Southern Blue Ridge using digital terrain models, Proceedings of Eco-Informa '96. Global Networks for Environmental Information, vol. vol.1 (1996), pp. 325 - 6, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
   (last updated on 2007/04/15)

   Abstract:
   Summary form only given. The primary goal of this study was to map potential vegetation on a large and important watershed in the Southern Blue Ridge. This watershed, the Chattooga River basin, exhibits considerable topographic and vegetative variation over nearly 300 square miles of land area, and has been widely disturbed by a history of agricultural and silvicultural practices. In the initial phase of this study, digital terrain models produced from 3 arc second DEMs were used in developing a stratified-random sampling scheme for vegetation surveys based on land elevation and site exposure. Subsequently, models of the study area were produced at 30 meter resolution and a variety of topographic variables were derived. Through discriminant analysis, these topographic variables were related to vegetation classifications developed from field survey data, producing prediction formulae for the various vegetation classes. These formulae yield probability scores for each class based on the values of topographic variables at a given point. The mapping of predicted vegetation was accomplished by applying the prediction formula for each vegetation class to every model point and classifying each point according to its highest probability score. This study will assist the Forest Service in identifying long-term ecological potentials in the Chattooga River basin and help inform public dialogues concerning management plans for the watershed. It might also provide a prototypical methodology in other areas where topographic variation has a significant influence on vegetation pattern and composition

   Keywords:
   digital simulation;ecology;forestry;geophysical techniques;geophysics computing;probability;