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Yosemite National Park
Background
In the Spring of 2008, I was contacted regarding a visualization project in Yosemite National Park. The project came through and I just completed phase one of the field work required to do the job - well. Currently this project is my pride and joy. The trip, was incredible and opened my eyes to a world I had forgotten existed.
The project
The project explores years of fire suppression that have resulted in destructive fires that have roared through the dry California landscape (and news) in recent years. Park Service policy prescribes management back to Native American settlement; native americans used fire to clear fields for agriculture and settlement. Decades of fire supression, in the name of "saving and preserving the forests", has disrupted a naturally occuring fire-driven homeostasis resulted in dangerous levels of fuel accumulation (dead and down woody material, leaf litter, etc).
Base data was collected from a series of sites including over and understory species, structure information, available fuel (browns) and more. Using fire modeling techniques, sites will be analyzed for fire potential / risk. Sites were chosen for visibility among other fire-driven variables things. Using this data, sites will be visualized in a 3d format. Various scenarios will modify tree species, composition and structure to illustrate the visual impact of management. Ecological benefits aside, potential visual benefits include opening up views to important landmarks throughout the park for visitors to enjoy.
This is a two year project so it's just getting rolling. I will update as the work progresses!! In the meantime, a photo journey has been laid out below for your viewing pleasure...