INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION PD 228/03 Rev. 3 (F) Phase I Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring and Management System Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data in China INTERMEDIATE TECHNICAL REPORT By Executing Agency The Research Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques of The Chinese Academy of Forestry (IFRIT, CAF) Beijing, China December 20th, 2007 NAME OF THE EXECUTING AGENCY: Research Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques of The Chinese Academy of Forestry (IFRIT, CAF) TYPE OF REPORT: Intermediate Technical Report TITLE OF THE PROJECT: Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring and Management System Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data in China PD 228/03 Rev. 3 (F) Phase 1 THE PLACE AND DATE IT WAS ISSUED: Beijing, China December 20th, 2007 1 PROJECT TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC STAFF: NAME OF PROJECT COORDINATOR: Yi Haoruo, Project Director Ji Ping, Vice-director of the Project NAMES OF MAIN STAFF: Yi Haoruo Ji Ping Qin Xianlin Xiao Yundan Wu Honggan Tian Yonglin Bai Lina Yang Sidao Zhong Youhong EXECUTING AGENCY: Research Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques of The Chinese Academy of Forestry (IFRIT, CAF) ADRESS: Chinese Academy of Forestry, Box 33, Xiang Shan Lu Road, Hai Dian District, Beijing 100091, CHINA TELEPHONE: 86-10-62889161 FAX: 86-10-62889161 or 86-10-62888315 E-MAIL: [email protected] 2 Table of Contents GLOSSARY----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 ABSTRACT-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1. INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------5 2. METHODS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.1 Investigation and Analysis on Forest Fire and Fire Management in Tropical Region of China -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.2 Design and development of TropFireMAS System-----------------------------------------------9 2.2.1 Design of TropFireMAS System -------------------------------------------------------------------9 2.2.2 Development of TropFireMAS System----------------------------------------------------------11 2.3 Tropical Forest Fire Danger Rating Prediction Sub-System--------------------------------19 2.3.1 Review of Forest Fire Danger Forecast ---------------------------------------------------------19 2.3.2 Methods -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21 2.4 Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring Sub-System ----------------------------------------------------26 2.4.1 Review of Forest Fire Identification---------------------------------------------------------------26 2.4.2 Methods -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------43 2.4.2.1 Fire Identification Method by Using AVHRR Images ---------------------------------------43 2.4.2.2 Fire Identification Method by Using MODIS Images----------------------------------------48 3. RESULTS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------62 3.1 Function of the Tropical Basic Databases Sub-system --------------------------------------62 3.2 Function of the Tropical Forest Fire Danger Rating Prediction Sub-system ----------62 3.3 Function of the Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring Sub-system ------------------------------70 3.4 Function of Fire Management Information Sub-system--------------------------------------79 3.5 Function of Chinese Tropical Forest Fire Website Sub-system ---------------------------79 3.6 Function of Business Sub-systems at All Levels ----------------------------------------------81 4. RECOMMENDATIONS----------------------------------------------------------------83 i 5. REFERENCES---------------------------------------------------------------------------84 6. APPENDICES----------------------------------------------------------------------------94 6.1 Published Papers by the Project---------------------------------------------------------------------94 6.2 Forest Fire Danger Risk Predication Results ----------------------------------------------------98 6.3 Forest Fire Monitoring Results ----------------------------------------------------------------------101 ii Glossary CAF Chinese Academy of Forestry EDA Experiment and Demonstration Area GDP Guangdong Province GIS Geographical Information System IFRIT Research Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques, CAF IT Information Technology RS Remote Sensing SFA State Forestry Administration TropFireMAS Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring and Management System Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data in China SRSIFRIS Satellite Receive Station of IFRIS 3 Abstract “Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring and Management System Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data in China” (TropFireMAS) has been established, based on the scientific achievements and technical accumulation of the Executing Agency on aspects of forest fire satellite monitoring, forest fire danger forecast, information system and network etc., and the combination of the scientific and technical accumulation with the study of present situation of forest fire in tropical regions of China. TropFireMAS system is an integrated technical system based on platforms of RS, GIS, databases software. The system contains several sorts of background data loaded in Basic Databases Sub-system, and obtains satellite remote sensing data (e.g. NOAA/AVHHR, MODIS and FY data) and Meteorological Data (ground observation data) everyday, then the system issues forest fire monitoring report, forest fire danger forecast report and fire information through Chinese Tropical Forest Fire Website. This technique report has summarized the relative methods about TropFireMAS system. The system has been structured in six subsystems, including Basic Databases Sub-system, Forest Fire Danger Forecast Sub-system, Satellite Remote Sensing Monitoring Sub-system, Fire Management Information Sub-system, Chinese Tropical Forest Fire Website and Business Sub-system. Methodology, especially that about forest fire monitoring and forest fire danger forecast which adapts to tropical region, have been introduced in detail in this report, based on the function design of all the systems. At the same time, these subsystems have been operated and verified in the EDA. Parts of results have been listed in this report. It shows that the approach of applying new-high technology for improvement of forest fire prevention is an effective way in terms of technology with less investment needed and with shorter construct period. So, the approach is the best way to improve forest fire prevention in tropical forest region of China. Through the implementation of the Project Phase 1, the local fire prevention organizations and stuffs fully uphold and support the project, and they believe that this project will have a great potential. 4 1. Introduction China’s tropical forest region is a region with high frequency of forest fires. According to statistics from 1950 to 2005, the frequency of forest fires in China amounts to more than 7 million with the total damaged forest areas of more than 300 million hectares. The forest fire loss amounts to more than several hundred billion RMB (Yuan) in China. In recent years, Chinese Government is implementing the key forestry projects of Natural Forest Protection, and Returning Farmland to Forest etc. Young forest areas have been greatly increased after afforestation in vast areas; while the implementation of closing hillside for forest cultivation makes combustible materials increase luxuriantly. All these factors have caused forest fire danger and fire calamity to be more severe in tropical regions. The forest fire problem in tropical regions of China has become a problem that urgently needs to be solved to protect and develop tropical forest of China. Problems to be solved by the project are: First, the low level of forest fire danger forecast restricts forest fire prevention capability and effect of prevention, which leads to high frequency of forest fires caused by human activities in the forest region. Secondly, the low level of forest fire monitoring and delayed detection of forest fires restrict timely suppression of forest fire in China’s tropical forest regions, so the fire is easy to spread and to cause heavy fire, thus leading to serious forest fire loss in the region. Thirdly, the forest fire management level in China’s tropical region urgently needs to be enhanced due to its low level of digitization and informatization. After investigation of forest fire, fire management and its relevant technology application in tropical forest regions of China, the project team considers that the construction of “Tropical Forest Fire Monitoring and Management System Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data in China” (TropFireMAS) is the best way for the solution of forest fire problems in China’s tropical region with less investment and quick effectiveness. 5 2. Methods 2.1 Investigation and Analysis on Forest Fire and Fire Management in Tropical Region of China The project team went to EDAs of Guangdong Province to investigate the situations of forest fire and fire management in tropical region of China, to study several types of forest sub-compartment, and to survey typical fire scars in the field in May and June 2006, when the project was at the starting stage. After summarizing and analyzing the information of investigation, the project