Treatments Effects User Guide

Learn how to use the Treatment Effects Tool

Overview

Overview

The Planscape Treatment Effects module helps planners assess the direct effects of treatments within their project areas. With an intuitive interface, users can create and compare multiple treatment plans to evaluate their effects and identify the optimal arrangement that supports their resiliency goals.

Planscape’s treatment analysis is powered by the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), a growth and yield model developed by the USDA Forest Service. FVS provides regionally specific estimates of forest conditions over time under both treated and untreated scenarios. This tool leverages the USFS TreeMap dataset within the FVS framework to simulate the effects of various fuel treatments on every forested acre in California.

For non-forested areas, the Treatment Effects tool utilizes the LANDFIRE Total Fuel Change Tool, which estimates post-treatment surface fuel characteristics to support comprehensive treatment analysis.
Once a treatment plan is finalized, Impacts generates a 20-year analysis showing direct effects at 5-year time steps (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years). More details on the methodology for calculating direct effects for both forested and non-forested areas can be found here

Collaboration

Users with creator, owner, or collaborator roles for the Planning Area can create, edit and run Treatment Plans.

Getting Started

To begin using Treatment Effects, you must first define a Planning Area—either by drawing one or by uploading a shapefile, in Explore. For detailed instructions on creating a Planning Area, refer to the Planscape User Guide section on Creating New Plans. Once your Planning Area is created, you can either run a new scenario or upload existing project areas.

  • To upload an existing project area, select “Upload Scenario” and provide the shapefile containing the project area(s) you wish to use.

To begin using Impacts, you must first define a Planning Area—either by drawing one or by uploading a shapefile, in Explore. For detailed instructions on creating a Planning Area, refer to the Planscape User Guide section on Creating New Plans. Once your Planning Area is created, you can either run a new scenario or upload existing project areas.

  • To upload an existing project area, select “Upload Scenario” and provide the shapefile containing the project area(s) you wish to use.

To create a new treatment plan, select “+ New Treatment Plan” from either:

  • The Scenario Card, or
  • The Treatment Plans tab within a scenario.

When you create a new treatment plan, you will be prompted to Name Your Treatment Plan. Processing may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the area.

The Treatment Plans tab will show the treatment tool along with any treatment plans that are in progress or completed.

Treatment Plans screen
Planning Area Overview

To begin using Treatment Effects, you must first define a Planning Area—either by drawing one or by uploading a shapefile, in Explore. For detailed instructions on creating a Planning Area, refer to the Planscape User Guide section on Creating New Plans. Once your Planning Area is created, you can either run a new scenario or upload existing project areas.

  • To upload an existing project area, select “Upload Scenario” and provide the shapefile containing the project area(s) you wish to use.

To begin using Treatment Effects, you must first define a Planning Area—either by drawing one or by uploading a shapefile, in Explore. For detailed instructions on creating a Planning Area, refer to the Planscape User Guide section on Creating New Plans. Once your Planning Area is created, you can either run a new scenario or upload existing project areas.

  • To upload an existing project area, select “Upload Scenario” and provide the shapefile containing the project area(s) you wish to use.

To create a new treatment plan, select “+ New Treatment Plan” from either:

  • The Scenario Card, or
  • The Treatment Plans tab within a scenario.

When you create a new treatment plan, you will be prompted to Name Your Treatment Plan. Processing may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the area.

The Treatment Plans tab will show the treatment tool along with any treatment plans that are in progress or completed.

Treatment Planning Page

Once a treatment plan is created and named, the Treatment Plan Overview page will display the Planning Area and its associated Project Areas. This page provides an overview of all project areas and the status of treatments applied to each. It updates automatically whenever new treatments are added.

The page includes three main tabs:

  1. Project Areas (Primary Tab) – Allows users to select and apply treatments while displaying details about each treatment.
  2. Base Maps – Enables users to switch between Road, Terrain, or Satellite base maps for better visualization.
  3. Notes – Provides a space for collaborators to communicate, share updates, and coordinate on treatment planning.

Treatments are searchable – use the search box to review specific treatment prescriptions across project areas. This is especially useful for large planning areas with numerous treatments applied.

The Treatment Summary provides a breakdown of the total acreage for each treatment applied across all project areas.

Treatment Summary
Treatment Summary

Applying Treatments

Treatment plans are created by applying available treatments at the stand level. To begin:

  1. Select a Project Area – Click on a project area on the map or from the project area list. This will zoom into the selected area, allowing you to start applying treatments.
  2. Choose Stands for Treatment
    • Click on a single hexagon (representing a stand) to apply treatment.
    • To select multiple stands, click and drag over the hexagons you want to include.
    • To remove a stand from selection, click it again.
  3. Apply a Treatment Type
    • Choose a treatment from the available treatments list, which includes both single activity and sequenced activity options.
      1. Single Treatment – Applies one treatment (e.g., RX Burn, Mastication) to the selected stands.
      2. Sequenced Treatment – Allows for a two-step approach:
        1. Initial treatment (Year 0)
        2. Reentry treatment (Year 10)
    • Treatments are color-coded for easy differentiation.
    • Once selections are made, click “Apply” to assign treatments.

Saving and Editing Treatments

  • Incomplete treatment plans are automatically saved and can be modified or completed before running the Treatment Analysis.
Treatment Analysis
Applying Treatments by Stand

Tracking and Searching Treatments

  • Once treatments have been applied, the Treatments tab will update to show:
    • Treatment types assigned
      • Percentage of the project area with each treatment
      • Total acres targeted for treatment
      • *Updates may take a few seconds to process.

Navigating Back to the Main Planning Window

To return to the main planning window, click “Back to Overview” in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

Treatment Type Definitions

Treatment types were developed in cooperation with land managers to represent the most relevant treatments that are likely to be applied in forested and non-forested systems with the goal of reducing fuel loading and wildfire likelihood and severity. 

 

Planscape Treatment KCPs used in FVS can be found here.

 

Thinning treatments, with the exception of mastication, are followed either by biomass removal or pile burning in the same year or prescribed fire simulated in the subsequent year of treatment. 

 

Treatment type

Treatment details

Moderate thinning and biomass removal

  • For trees 0”-4” DBH, thin to a 5 TPA target.
  • For trees 4”-10” DBH, thin to a 2 TPA target.
  • For trees 10”-14” DBH, thin to a 10 sqft ac-1 BA target.
  • Remove stem biomass and pile burn branch wood. 

Heavy thinning and biomass removal

  • For trees 0”-2” DBH, thin to a 5 TPA target.
  • For trees 2”-10” DBH, thin to a 1 TPA target.
  • For trees 4”-16” DBH, thin to a 2 sqft ac-1 BA target.
  • Remove stem biomass and pile burn branch wood. 

Moderate thinning and pile burn

  • For trees 0”-4” DBH, thin to a 5 TPA target.
  • For trees 4”-10” DBH, thin to a 2 TPA target.
  • For trees 10”-14” DBH, thin to a 10 sqft ac-1 BA target.
  • Pile burn stem and branch wood.

Heavy thinning and pile burn

  • For trees 0”-2” DBH, thin to a 5 TPA target.
  • For trees 2”-10” DBH, thin to a 1 TPA target.
  • For trees 4”-16” DBH, thin to a 2 sqft ac-1 BA target.
  • Pile burn stem and branch wood.

Moderate mastication

  • Masticate trees <10″ DBH to 2 TPA target in 0-4″ DBH size class
  • Size of masticated fuels: 1″-3″
  • Proportion of surface fuel composed of masticated pieces: 0.7

Heavy mastication

  • Masticate trees <14″ DBH to 2 TPA target in 0-4″ DBH size class
  • Size of masticated fuels: 1″-3″
  • Proportion of surface fuel composed of masticated pieces: 0.7

Prescribed fire

  • Wind speed: 8 mph
  • Moisture level: 2 (Dry)
  • Temperature: 70° F
  • 70% of stand is burned
  • Burning occurs in early spring

Heavy thinning and prescribed fire

  • For trees 0”-2” DBH, thin to a 5 TPA target.
  • For trees 2”-10” DBH, thin to a 1 TPA target.
  • For trees 4”-16” DBH, thin to a 2 sqft ac-1 BA target.
  • Prescribed fire in subsequent year with settings described above.

Mastication and prescribed fire

  • Masticate trees <14″ DBH to 2 TPA target in 0-4″ DBH size class
  • Size of masticated fuels: 1″-3″
  • Proportion of surface fuel composed of masticated pieces: 0.7
  • Prescribed fire in subsequent year with settings described above.

Reviewing & Running the Treatment Analysis

To get an overview of where treatments have been applied across all project areas, use the “View Treatment Layers” toggle. This provides a visual summary of the treatment status across the planning area.

Treatment Layers
Overview of Planned Treatments

Finalizing the Treatment Plan

Once all treatments are applied and the plan is finalized, select “Run Treatment Analysis”.

Before running the analysis, you will be prompted to review your treatment plan to ensure all desired treatments have been applied.

  • Use the “Show Only Areas with No Treatments” filter to highlight project areas where no treatments have been applied.
  • If further edits are needed, select “Cancel” to continue modifying the plan.
  • If the plan is complete, select “Create” to start the treatment analysis.

 

The Treatment Effects model will process the treatment plan, which may take several minutes depending on the number of treatments applied. Once the analysis is complete, Planscape will send an email notification when the results are ready for review.   The treatment plans status can also be viewed in the Treatment Plans tab.

Treatment Analysis

The Treatment Analysis displays direct effects for both forested and non-forested areas inside of project areas. It generates a 20-year analysis of treatment plans, displaying direct effects at 5-year intervals: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.

To view your treatment analysis:

  • Click the link in the email notification, or
  • Navigate to the Treatment Plans tab and select the treatment plan marked as “Done”.
Treatment Analysis
Treatment Analysis Page

Export GeoPackage

Users can download a GeoPackage of their analysis results by selecting “Export GeoPackage” in the top-right corner of the analysis.

Percentage Change from Baseline (Forested Stands)

This graph visualizes percentage changes from the baseline over a 20-year period, with data points at 5-year intervals (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years). Year 0 represents the immediate post-treatment condition, while subsequent time steps illustrate longer-term treatment effects. The data is derived from the Treatment Effects model using FVS and reflects direct effects outputs for forested stands. “% forested” refers to the proportion of the stand that is considered forested based on the TreeMap data product. 

Graph Customization & Filtering

  • Metric Selection – Use the metric selector at the bottom to adjust the displayed direct effects outputs. Up to four metrics can be shown at once.
  • Project Area Filtering – View aggregated changes for the entire planning area or isolate results for a specific project area.
  • Treatment Type Filtering – Filter by treatment type, displaying results only for stands where the selected treatment(s) were applied.

Explore Direct Effects as the Stand Level

This section provides both a map and a graph to visualize where specific treatment prescriptions were applied and to explore stand-level direct effects on metrics relating to stand structure and composition, fuel structure and composition, and potential fire impacts (see table below). Note that visualizations show the unitless ratio between baseline and treatment values (Δ) and not absolute values of those metrics. 

Treatment Prescriptions map

  • Navigate the map to view treatment applications at the stand level.
  • Open or close the Treatment Legend (top-right corner) to understand how treatments were applied.
  • Use map controls to pan and select individual stands for more detailed analysis.
  • Selecting a stand will update the Stand Level Data Graph on the left, displaying its direct effects.
treatment prescriptions
Treatment Prescriptions Overview

Stand Level Data graph

Once a stand is selected, this graph provides a detailed stand-level view of direct effects based on treatment type and landscape characteristics.

Forested Stands

  • Displays the same data as the Percentage Change from Baseline graph but at the individual stand level.
  • Users can view one metric at a time, adjustable via the metric selector at the bottom.

 

Non-Forested Stands

Instead of showing percentage change from baseline, this graph presents a table displaying:

  • Rate of Spread (ROS) adjective class
  • Flame Length adjective class

 

These values represent the actual post-treatment classification of the stand at each 5-year time step, rather than a comparison to baseline conditions.

Per RMRS GTR153, spread rates and flame lengths are referred to as being very low, low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme—assuming two-thirds cured herbaceous, dry dead fuels (moisture scenario D2L2), a midflame wind speed of 5 mi/h, and zero slope. See the following table:

Adjective Class

ROS (ch/h)

FL (ft)

Very Low

0-2

0-1

Low

2-5

1-4

Moderate

5-20

4-8

High

20-50

8-12

Very High

50-150

12-25

Extreme

> 150

> 25

Table: RMRS GTR153

Stand Level Data graph
Non-Forested Output

Forested Landscape Outputs

Metric

Description

Crown Bulk Density

the weight of the crown per unit volume 

Canopy Base Height

the average height above the ground where the tree crowns begin.

Canopy Cover

the percentage of the ground covered by the vertical projection of the tree crowns.

Large Tree Biomass

the amount of woody material (weight or volume) contained in trees above a certain size threshold. This threshold can vary depending on the forest type and management objectives

Merchantable Biomass

the weight of the stem and branches of a tree that can be used for lumber or pulp.

Non-merchantable Biomass

the weight of the other parts of a tree, such as the leaves, needles, and roots.

Mortality

the number of trees that die in a stand.

Potential Smoke

the amount of smoke that could be produced by a fire in a stand.

Probability of Torching

the likelihood that a tree crown will ignite and burn intensely. Canopy Base Height, Canopy Bulk Density, Fuel Moisture and Fire Intensity all impact the output of the probability of torching.

Quadratic Mean Diameter

the average diameter of the trees in a stand, calculated by taking the square root of the average of the squared diameters of the trees.

Stand Density Index

a measure of the number of trees per acre.

Total Height

the height of the tallest tree in a stand.

Total Flame Severity

a measure of the intensity of a fire in a stand.

Total Carbon

the amount of carbon stored in a stand.

All metrics for forested stands are calculated in FVS at each five-year timestep using FVS default equations specific to the particular FVS variant being modeled. 

 

Non-Forested Landscape Outputs

For non-forested areas, the Treatment Effects tool provides outputs for Rate of Spread (ROS) and Flame Length, which differ from the metrics used for forested areas. These results are generated using the LANDFIRE Total Fuel Change Tool (LFTFCT) to assess fuel treatment impacts.

The LFTFCT applies disturbance codes to determine changes in the Fire Behavior Fuel Model 40 (FM40). The modified FM40 values are then used to classify and display the Flame Length and Rate of Spread adjective classes for non-forested stands. The outputs for non-forested areas are based on the standard fire behavior surface fuel models (Scott and Burgan 2005). 

Additional information can be found on the Vegetation and Fuels Modeling Methodology page.

Note: Non-burnable fuel models will not display Flame Length or Rate of Spread outputs.