PixSim: Enhancing high-resolution large-scale forest simulations

Abstract

PixSim is a flexible, open-source forest growth simulator designed to operate at the pixel level of high-resolution, wall-to-wall forest resource maps generated through remote sensing approaches. PixSim addresses the need to adapt forest growth simulators to the data produced by modern remote sensing-based forest inventories, rather than relying on stand-level averages from traditional field-based inventories. By operating at the pixel level, PixSim captures intra-stand variability in high-resolution forest resource maps, which is often overlooked by stand-level simulators. This capability aligns with the current focus on precision forestry, aimed at improving management decisions with localized data and small-scale management. Implemented in the R programming language, PixSim features minimal package dependencies, provides flexibility and scalability, and has been optimized for high-resolution, large-scale simulations, ensuring efficient computation. The simulator’s flexibility and open-source nature support the incorporation of management modules and the inclusion of climate change scenarios in simulations.