Fuels Management Analyst - Known Problems, Fixes, Enhancements
 

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03/15/2003 – CM and DDWoodyPC

In CrownMass Version 1.1.108, changes have been made to enhance the error checking of data entries on the Analysis Area and Plots screen.  Also, changes have been made to support data entry of the 20-foot wind speed and dry bulb temperature on the Environment Tab.

In DDWoodyPC Version 1.2.41, changes have been made to enhance the error checking of data entries. 

02/09/2003 – CM and DspClock

In CrownMass Version 1.1.107, enhancements have been made to allow for both pulldown and manual entry of all values on the Analysis Area and Plots Tab.  In addition, changes have been made to the handling of the situation where the surface fire rate of spread is greater than the maximum crown rate of spread.  CrownMass now displays a warning to this effect and suggests the environmental conditions are unrealistic.

In Dispatcher’ Clock, Version 2.1.10, the sunrise/sunset tables have been updated to be produced through 2010.

01/19/2003 - CM

In CrownMass Version 1.1.101, changes have been made to the default values and performance of the Surface Deposition columns on the Analysis Area and Plots Tab.  Recent user feedback indicates that, at times, changes were being made to these values to model fuel treatments.  Depending on the changes, incorrect estimates of canopy and surface fuels could occur. The changes made in Version 1.1.101 will eliminate the potential for accidental errors and also strengthen the ability of the program to model fuel treatments.

6/13/2003 – CM

In CrownMass Version 1.1.94, changes have been made to the calculation of crown weights for Eastside and Westside Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock.  The crown weight equations in CrownMass were coded in 2000 to parallel those in the Federal agency debris prediction programs. For Pacific Northwest (Westside) Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock, the equations in the Federal agency debris prediction programs were from Estimating the Weight of Crown Segments for Old Growth Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock (Snell and Max, RP-PNW-329, January 1985). Prior to this publication, the equations for the Pacific Northwest (Westside) Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock were from Predicting Crown weight of Coast Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock (Snell and Anholt, RP-PNW-281, March 1981). The equations in RP-PNW-329 significantly over-predict crown weights for trees less than 10 inches DBH.  In addition, the equations in RP-PNW-329 were used to calculate crown weights for Intermountain (Eastside) Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock for DBH values greater than 34 and 32 inches respectively. This resulted is significant changes in crown weights at this crossover DBH values.

In CrownMass Version 1.1.94, the following changes have been made:

The equations for Pacific Northwest (Westside) Douglas-fir crown weights have been changed to use RP-PNW-281 (1981) for DBH values from 0-18 inches. For DBH values greater than 18 inches, the equations in RP-PNW329 (1985) are used.

The equations for Intermountain (Eastside) Douglas-fir, the equations in RP-PNW-329 were used to calculate crown weights for trees greater than 34 inches DBH.  This created a significant weight decrease at the transition DBH value. With this version of CrownMass, the equations for Intermountain Douglas-fir crown weights have been changed to use RP-PNW-281(1981) for DBH values greater than 34 inch DBH.

The equations for Pacific Northwest (Westside) Western Hemlock crown weights have been changed to use RP-PNW-281 (1981) for all DBH. 

The equations for Intermountain (Eastside) Western Hemlock, the equations in RP-PNW-329 were used to calculate crown weights for trees greater than 32 inches DBH.  This created a significant weight increase at the transition DBH value. With this version of CrownMass, the equations for Intermountain Western hemlock crown weights have been changed to use RP-PNW-281(1981) for DBH values greater than 32 inch DBH.


4/25/2003 – DDWPC

Fixed error on DDWPC Photo Series side.  If there was information in the Note section, the fuel loading report could not be created.  This has been corrected in version 1.2.39.

3/16/2003 -- CM

Changes made correct a problem with the calculation of total fuelbed depth.  This has been corrected in version 1.1.92

3/16/2003 -- DDWPC

Changes made correct a problem with Photo Series Inventories.  Occurs when selecting the first photo on the list, the data is not properly transferred back to input grid.  This has been corrected in version 1.2.38.

2/24/2003 -- DDWPC

Changes made correct a problem when no 3+ materials were entered.  In this case the program could terminate.  This applies only to version 1.2.34 or later.  Download  DDWPC 1.2.37.

2/20/2003 -- DDWPC

Changes made to correct an error in the calculation of percent error for Photo Series inventories.  Download DDWPC 1.2.36.

1/28/2003 -- PSE

Changes made to correct a problem printing fuel profile photos and comparison photos.  Additionally, a printing problem associated with Windows XP and ME was fixed. Download PSE 1.0.28 for the corrected application

1/14/2003 -- CM

Changes made to correct a problem that caused a Crown Rate of Spread to be displayed when fire type was Surface instead of zero.  Download CM 1.1.89.

1/14/2003 -- DDWPC

Changes made to correct a problem with the calculation of foliage/needles.  Download DDWPC 1.2.34 for the corrected application

6/28/2002 -- CM

Changes made to develop version 1.1.84 failed to deal with a potential divide by zero situation when the Fire Behavior Tab was click on. Version 1.1.86 fixes this problem.

6/2/2002 -- CM

The calculation of Crown Fraction Burned (CFB) on the Fire Behavior Tab has been using an equation from Van Wagner (1977, 1993).  The Farsite program (Finney 1998) implements CFB in a slightly different manner and this change in CrownMass, Version 1.84, implement fully the Farsite process.  CFB calculations prior to Version 1.84 will be higher than those calculated with Version 1.84.  The change only effects the crown fire rate of spread if an Active Crown Fire predicted by CrownMass.

5/12/2002 -- CM:

On the Analysis Area and Plots screen, the text box for Area Name allows for text up to 50 characters in length, including spaces.  The text box allowed the user to enter more than 50 characters.  When any process, such as calculations, was implemented which required writing information to the database, an error occurred.  The program will no longer allow the user to enter more than 50 characters in the Area Name field. 

4/3/2002 -- CM:

When entering loading in the Surface Fuel Model tab for current surface loading you were only able to enter whole number.  This has been fixed to allow the entry of numbers containing  fractional values.  Please download CM version 1.1.80.

 4/3/2002 -- CM:

A number of changes have been incorporated into this version of Crown Mass (CM) version 1.1.78.  

Plot Canopy Base and Ceiling Heights

The method for handling Canopy Base(CBH) and Ceiling Heights(CCH) in plots where the one foot bulk density does not exceed the Critical Bulk Density identified on the Assumptions Tab has been changed.  Instead of using an average of the stand heights as a surrogate, the CBH and CCH are now not calculated and indicated as such by an N/C (not calculable) in the appropriate boxes.   This also affects the Analysis Area’s CBH and CCH values.   If no plots have a one foot bulk density that exceeds the Critical Bulk Density, then the CBH and CCH values for the Analysis Area are marked N/C.  Only those plots in an Analysis Area that have a one foot bulk density that exceeds the Critical Bulk Density are used to compute the Analysis Area’s CBH and CCH.  This has a corresponding effect of the statistics for CBH.  Warnings have been added to alert users any plots that did not meet the CBD.

In addition, Stand Height for each Plot and Analysis Area has been added.  Several minor fixes have also been included in this release including the Tab progression order on the Environment Tab.

3/12/2002 -- DDWPC:

The total area tons per acre on the summary graph and on the loading report did
not include needles.  This has been fixed in 1.2.32

1/23/2002 -- CM:

CM was not accepting the number of trees per acre to the level of
resolution should in the FVS tree list. It was rounding up resulting in an
overestimation of tree per acre. All past FVS imports should be re-evaluated.
Start with a New CrownMass Inventory and import the FVS tree list.
Perform a new analysis using this CM 1.69 and the new FVS import.

1/9/2002 -- CM:

      1) Fixed copy proportions when entering manually vs pulldown
      2)Added Notes button for access from any screen.
      3)Corrected Tree Effects to show Trees Remaining per Acre.
      4)Added tool assistant for live fuel moistures

1/9/2002 -- Fuel Model Manager:

1.  Revision to results display to add size after 1 hour.

1/9/2002 -- DDWPC:

     1)Loadings for 3+ material not computed correctly.  Now fixed with version 1.2.30
     2)Added Notes button for access from any screen.

1/9/2002 -- FMA and FMAPlus:

1.  Problem with weblinks.  Now fixed with version 1.2.20

11/15/2001 -- FMA and FMAPlus:

1.  Windows 2000 with Norton.  Norton is launched when clicking on a program in the FMA Tools tab.  This is now fixed in version 1.2.19.

11/15/2001 -- Fuel Model Manager:

A new fuel model file (FMAFuelModels.FFM) has been created that contains the 13 FBPS models along the standard FMA models and with a new locking mechanism to prevent editing of the standard models.   You will also need to download the newest version of FMMgr.exe.

7/22/2001 -- Crown Mass:

1.  Fire Behavior Results not being recalculated when returning to the inputs tab from the fire behavior results tab, modifying data and then returning to the fire behavior results tab.  This has been fixed in CM 1.1.52

5/17/2001 -- FMA and FMAPlus:

1.  Run time error occurred when double clicking a web site link in the Web tab.  This has been fixed in FMA and FMAPlus version 1.0.16

3/26/2001 -- Crown Mass - Fixed several problems:

1.  Calculation of Canopy Base Height, Canopy Ceiling Height, Bulk Density were found to be in error especially when more than one plot was enter.
2.  Often the message "Error - Key already associated with an element" would occur when attempting to generate Crown Mass output.
3.  CM density graph often skipped segments when more than one plot was entered.
4.  Unable to input new species ID code in preference screen correctly.
5.  Percent Error for multiple plots was not correctly computed.

3/26/2001 -- Fuel Model Manager - Fixed several problems:

1. Surface Area to Volume Ratio and Relative Packing Ratio were not being calculated correctly.
2. Synchronized Adjustment was disabled when returning to the test and edit center.

3/26/2001 -- DDWPC Fixed the following  problem:

1. Parts of the Loading Summary report extended beyond the width of the page when printing or saving.

2/3/00 -- DDWPC: Unable to run reports under the Windows NT operating system..

The problem has been fixed.  Return to the support page and download the latest version of DDWPC.

 

2/3/00 -- Photo Series Explorer.  Serious Error occurs when closing the view photo/data screen.

The problem has been fixed.  Return to the support page and download the latest version of PSE.

 

 

2/3/00 -- Photo Series Explorer.  Photo image does not print when a custom books file is used and the image is on the hard drive.

The problem has been fixed.  Return to the support page and download the latest version of PSE.

1/5/00 -- If Inventory Date format is invalid  the Inverntory Area data is not written when it is saved to the database and therefore is blank.

The problem has been fixed.  Return to the support page and download the latest version of DDWPC.

DDWoodyPC (Prior to 10/1/99)

5/21/99 -- Help File is bad, displays "Under Construction"

If when you bring up help it displays the notice: "Under Construction" you need to download a the correct help files.  This occurs on the  some 1.03 versions distributed during April and May 1999.  If you have this problem then follow these instructions:

    1. Download the file containing the correct help files by clicking here.
    2. Save file to the DDWoodyPC software folder: C:\Program Files\DDWoodyPC (unless installed elsewhere.)
    3. Start Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Program Files\DDWoodyPC .
    4. Double click the file DDWHELP.EXE to load files, answer yes to replace the bad files.
    5. Start DDWoodyPC and test help system.

5/21/99 -- Error occurs when running reports against the Planar Intercept example file: PIExample.dpi

If this occurs please download a new PIExample.dpi example file:

    1. Download the new example file by clicking here.
    2. Save file to the DDWoodyPC data folder: C:\Program Files\DDWoodyPC\Data (unless installed elsewhere.)  Replace the current file.
  

5/7/99 -- Problems or behavior issues after loading the Incident Resource Status System (IRSS98).

When IRSS98 is installed it replaces some of the shared components used by DDWoodyPC with different versions.  This may cause problems such a certain features not working and abnormal appearance.

Solution: Reload DDWoodyPC.

3/1/99 "Run time error '48', file not found: VB5STKIT.DLL".  2-24-99

This problem may occur when DDWoodyPC is first started after install.  This usually only happens
on new equipment.  In any case, the missing file has been included as of 2-24-99.   For those that have installed
DDWoodyPC  and you have this problem install the missing file by following the
instructions below:

1. Click here to to download VB5STKIT.EXE
2. Save file to \windows\system.

3. Press the Windows Start button, choose Run, enter \Windows\System\VB5STKIT.EXE, press OK.

That's it.

4/14/99 Duff Depth and Fuel Bed Depths not being reported correctly on loading reports. (4/24/99)

   Solution:
    a. Click here to download ddwpc.exe
    b. Save file to the DDWoodyPC software folder: C:\Program Files\DDWoodyPC.
    c. Start DDWoodyPC to confirm.  Version should be 1.03.

4/14/99 When adding a new plot the previous 3"+ material data is carried forward to the new plot (4/24/99)

    Solution:
    a. Click here to download ddwpc.exe
    b. Save file to the DDWoodyPC software folder: C:\Program Files\DDWoodyPC.
    c. Start DDWoodyPC to confirm.  Version should be 1.03