Croplanner: A Stand Density Management Decision-Support Software Suite for Addressing Volumetric Yield, End-Product and Ecosystem Service Objectives When Managing Boreal Conifers

• Main Author: Peter F. Newton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Forests
• Subjects: CP_DSS; automated and iterative; initial espacement; precommercial thinning; commercial thinning; climate change
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/4/448

The objectives of this study were to develop a stand density management decision-support software suite for boreal conifers and demonstrate its potential utility in crop planning using practical deployment exemplifications. Denoted CP_DSS (CroPlanner Decision-support Software Suite), the program was developed by transcribing algorithmic analogues of structural stand density management diagrams previously developed for even-aged black spruce (<i>Picea mariana</i> (Mill) BSP.) and jack pine (<i>Pinus banksiana</i> Lamb.) stand-types into an integrated software platform with shared commonalities with respect to computational structure, input requirements and generated numerical and graphical outputs. The suite included 6 stand-type-specific model variants (natural-origin monospecific upland black spruce and jack pine stands, mixed upland black spruce and jack pine stands, and monospecific lowland black spruce stands, and plantation-origin monospecific upland black spruce and jack pine stands), and 4 climate-sensitive stand-type-specific model variants (monospecific upland black spruce and jack pine natural-origin and planted stands). The underlying models which were equivalent in terms of their modular structure, parameterization analytics and geographic applicability, were enabled to address a diversity of crop planning scenarios when integrated within the software suite (e.g., basic, extensive, intensive and elite silvicultural regimes). Algorithmically, the Windows^® (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) based suite was developed by recoding the Fortran-based algorithmic model variants into a collection of VisualBasic.Net^® (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) equivalents and augmenting them with intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs), optional computer-intensive optimization applications for automated crop plan selection, and interactive tabular and charting reporting tools inclusive of static and dynamic stand visualization capabilities. In order to address a wide range of requirements from the end-user community and facilitate potential deployment within provincially regulated forest management planning systems, a participatory approach was used to guide software design. As exemplified, the resultant CP_DSS can be used as an (1) automated crop planning searching tool in which computer-intensive methods are used to find the most appropriate precommercial thinning, commercial thinning and (or) initial espacement (spacing) regime, according to a weighted multivariate scoring metric reflective of attained mean tree size, operability status, volumetric productivity, and economic viability, and a set of treatment-related constraints (e.g., thresholds regarding intensity and timing of thinning events, and residual stocking levels), as specified by the end-user, or (2) iterative gaming-like crop planning tool where end-users simultaneously contrast density management regimes using detailed annual and rotational volumetric yield, end-product and ecological output measures, and (or) an abbreviate set of rotational-based performance metrics, from which they determine the most applicable crop plan required for attaining their specified stand-level objective(s). The participatory approach, modular computational structure and software platform used in the formulation of the CP_DSS along with its exemplified utility, collectively provides the prerequisite foundation for its potential deployment in boreal crop planning.