Efficient Building of Forestry Modelling Software with the Capsis Methodology

Abstract

To predict growth and yield of forests and plantations, forestry scientists often build models. In order to run simulations, these models are then implemented in computer programs. The resulting simulators can be used to run various scenarios, for instance to evaluate the effect of different initial situations (density, age, spatial structure...), to assess various management strategies (number, date and type of interventions) or to study the effect of natural disturbances (gaps, wind, fertility changes, etc.). The Capsis Platform accepts a great number of model types: from mono specific stand level or distanceindependent tree models to heterogeneous individual based models, spatially explicit or not. Such forestry growth and yield or dynamics models are integrated into Capsis by their authors in codevelopment with a computer developer after a short training and starting session together, according to the Capsis charter. This process quickly (days or weeks) results in a running simulator.