SWCA has the expertise to develop accurate, detailed risk assessments that reflect the reality on-the-ground and provide a framework for future mitigation, preparedness, and planning efforts.
We use the most current and trusted GIS software and applications, including the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS) and Esri’s advanced ArcGIS software platform to integrate and process data for risk assessment models. Our risk assessment models include spatial data such as:
- Weather Patterns
- Topography
- Vegetation Regimes
- Fuel Models
- Fire Occurrence
- History and Density
- Fire Response Time
- Wildland Urban Interfaces
- Fire Behavior Models (such as crown fire activity, flame length, fireline intensity, and rate of spread)
- Highly Valued Resources and Assets (including cultural, natural, and socioeconomic)
Using our fire science expertise and local knowledge of conditions, we customize risk assessment models using weighted raster sums or overlays to define the relative importance of the inputs. We go beyond one-output modeling, creating risk assessment series based on scenarios that include weather and fuels severity variations, pre- and post-treatments, and long-term effects of climate change.