Support system development for forest ecosystem management

This paper discusses issues and requirements associated with the development of a spatial decision support system for the USDA Forest Service. A system was developed which integrates optimization based management planning models using map based representations of the spatial area being analyzed. This system was designed to address the decidedly hierarchical planning environment of the USDA Forest Service through the presentation of management alternatives in various forms, including impact visualization. This paper details some of the features of the developed spatial decision support system and demonstrates how optimization models are currently being made more informative through the presentation of results and further integrated within the planning structure of the USDA Forest Service.