2.9 FVS Link
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2.9 FVS Link

Introduction

This tool is used to visualize results from the Forest Vegetation Simulator-- a free and widely used growth and planning tool developed by the US Forest Service. If you are new to FVS, you can download the tool and learn the basics using the links below:

 

FVS Homepage: https://www.fs.fed.us/fvs/index.shtml

Local download: https://www.fs.fed.us/fvs/software/complete.php

Online version: https://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/FVSOnline/

FVS Training: https://www.fs.fed.us/fvs/training/index.shtml

 

FVS Setup

FVS will allow you to import data about stands, plots, and trees, prescribe management activities, run growth modelling, and generate numerous outputs. The FVS Link tool in Stand Designer was created to read the outputs from any existing FVS run. The only outputs required for visualization in Stand Designer are the Tree Lists. Ensure that these outputs are turned by going to Runs -> Select Outputs, then turn on the checkbox for "Tree Lists (FVS_Treelist, FVS_CutList (StdStk-stand and stock)". If necessary, go to Runs -> *Run* then click Save and Run to recalculate the outputs.

 

When you click Save and Run in FVS, it will generate a file or add to a file named "FVSOut.db". This is the file that you will connect to via Stand Designer. To get this file from the server-based online version of FVS, you will need to click the button    or   

 

For the Local configuration of FVS you can also find the FVSOut.db file in your project folder on your disk.

 

FVS Link in Stand Designer

To use the FVS Link tool in Stand Designer, follow these steps:

  1. Click Select Database and locate the FVSOut.db file from your FVS project, as described above.
  2. Make a selection from the Select Run dropdown.
  3. Make a selection from the Select Stand dropdown.
  4. [Optional] Select a structure, adjust distribution slider, switch polygon usage.
  5. Click Prepare Sequence. Wait for Stand Designer to calculate tree positions and load models for all years.
  6. After loading is finished, make a selection from the Select Year dropdown. Trees will appear automatically to represent the selected run, stand, and year.
  7. If a harvest occured during the selected year, a checkbox will appear to View Post Harvest. Toggle the checkbox to see harvested trees turn into stumps. Optionally, use the Hide Snags checkbox in conjunction with View Post Harvest.

 

 

Notes:

  1. As with the other placement tools in Stand Designer, the results shown and the inventory numbers displayed may vary some degree from the original data. Data shown in Stand Designer always reflects the trees that are in the scene using the assumptions/equations that are programmed into Stand Designer. For the most best representation of statistics like scribner per acre, biomass per acre, etc., refer to FVS directly.
  2. Saving an FVS link/scene/growth sequence to a .vl file is not currently supported.