Fire Science

Fire Science at the New Mexico Consortium encompasses a broad range of research focused on wildfire behavior, ecosystem processes, conservation, cultural resources, and land management. This work includes projects led through the Center for Applied Fire and Ecosystem Science (CAFES) as well as collaborations with additional fire scientists and research partners across multiple institutions.

Researchers draw from expertise in fire behavior and ecosystem process modeling, field-based conservation and wildlife studies, quantitative fire archaeology and fire effects, paleo-fire studies, advanced fuels mapping, and remote sensing. NMC scientists work closely with federal, tribal, academic, and community partners to develop tools and science that support the conservation and management of cultural and natural resources across the United States.

For more information about the Center for Applied Fire and Ecosystem Science, visit the CAFES webpage

RELATED PROJECTS

Kisatchie National Forest Hurricane Disaster Heritage Feature Detection Project

Project lead: Jonathan Paige, NMC Research Scientist

This project will develop next generation tools for archaeological site prediction, data synthesis, and records management for the Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) to increase the Heritage Program’s efficiency in satisfying their regulatory obligations for cultural resources. The proposed toolkit will include: 1) an updated site prediction model that considers advanced landscape morphology and disturbance models to pinpoint areas with a higher likelihood of containing National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible sites; 2) a data management workflow for creating machine-readable site forms that can be queried and summarized by KNF Heritage program staff; and 3) natural language processing tools to quickly synthesize information from the KNF’s current database of over 5,000 archaeological sites.

Funded by USDA Forest Service.

Advancing LiDAR applications for DoD cultural resource management through machine -learning algorithms for archaeological survey and risk modeling for cultural resource hazard assessments

Project lead: Jonathan Paige, NMC Research Scientist

This project develops decision support tools to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities of heritage landscapes and cultural resources to climate change and fire impacts, via coupling of 3D fuels mapping, next generation fire behavior modeling, near real-time remote sensing, and TEK-engaged fire planning and response, in a research-practitioner co-production framework. (ESTCP)

Funded by USDOD ESTCP

Washington Conservation Science Institute Cultural Resources Survey

Project Manager: Grant Snitker, NMC Research Scientist
Other Scientists:
Other Partners:

Washington Conservation Science Institute’s contract with the NMC Cultural Resource Sciences program to conduct a cultural resources compliance survey and to develop new methods for digital data collection for field archaeology.

Funded by Washington Conservation Science Institute

Kisatchie National Forest Heritage Feature Detection Project

Project lead: Claudine Gravel-Miguel, NMC Research Scientist

Collection LiDAR data on the Kisatchie National Forest and development heritage feature detection tools to improve predictive models, site identification, and cultural resource management.

Funded by USDA Forest Service

Assessing the effects of wildfire and vegetation management on ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) populations in sand shinnery oak sagebrush habitats

Project lead: Nancy Karraker, NMC Research Scientist

Shinnery oak and sand sagebrush ecosystems in eastern New Mexico represent critical habitats for populations of vulnerable wildlife species, yet these habitats are being altered by changes in wildfire regimes and colonization by invasive plants. We will evaluate vegetation composition and structure pre- and post-disturbance in relation to changes in wildlife populations. This research will aid habitat restoration planning for wildlife on federal and state managed lands.

Funded by USDOI BLM

The National Fire Plan-Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance

Project lead: Scott Pokswinski, NMC Research Scientist

Facilitate airborne and terrestrial lidar fuel monitoring expansion to UFW, BIA and tribal partners by creating models and training techniques.

Funded by USDOI FWS

Innovation and Demonstration of Wildland Fuels and Fire Research for Management

Project Manager: Scott Pokswinski, NMC Research Scientist
Other Scientists:
Other Partners:

Developing new laser scanning techniques for currently underrepresented terrestrial ecosystems in the southeastern
and northeastern U.S., particularly hardwood/deciduous/wetlands forests.

Funded by USDA FS

Analysis of hurricane damage to support wildland fire and fuels management in southern Appalachian forests

Project lead: Scott Pokswinski, NMC Research Scientist

The purpose is to advance our understanding of how hurricanes and other associated natural disasters (tornadoes, flooding) impacted the managed forests of the southern Appalachian region, and what that means for future wildland fuels management and fire management. Through the use of new technologies (e.g., terrestrial laser scanning), field sampling, and emerging fire behavior models, managers and researchers can work together to advance fuels monitoring efforts and support prescribed fire management in these heavily damaged areas.