@article {BF-2428,
	title = {Applying Fire Spread Simulators in New Zealand and Australia: Results from an International Seminar},
	year = {2006},
	abstract = {There is currently no spatial wildfi re spread and growth simulation model
used commonly across New Zealand or Australia. Fire management decision-making
would be enhanced through the use of spatial fi re simulators. Various groups from
around the world met in January 2006 to evaluate the applicability of different spatial
fi re spread applications for common use in both New Zealand and Australia. Developers
and researchers from Canada, the United States, and Australia were invited to
apply Prometheus, FARSITE, and other similar models to New Zealand and Australian
wildfi res in grass, scrub, and forested fuel types. Although the lack of site-specifi c fuel
models and weather data were a concern, coarse spatial and temporal data inputs
proved adequate for modeling fi res within a reasonable margin of error. The choice
of grass models proved less important than expected since spread rates were easily
manipulated through moisture content values during calibration. The fi nal modeled
perimeters are affected by several user inputs that are impossible to separate from
model error. These various inputs exist to allow experienced users to approximate local
environmental variability as closely as possible to obtain successful outputs. Rather than
attempt to quantify direct comparisons, local users concluded it was more important
to choose an application that provides an appropriate level of functionality, that is
compatible with current data and fi re management systems, and that can be easily
modifi ed to use unique and varied fi re spread equations. Prometheus and FARSITE
performed very well and will be further investigated to understand how each might
be customized for use with local fi re spread models. This paper describes the process
and results of testing some existing fi re growth simulation models for use on fi res in
New Zealand and Australia.},
	url = {http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p041/rmrs_p041_201_212.pdf},
	author = {Tonja Opperman and J.S. Gould and Mark Finney and Cordy Tymstra}
}
