The Expert System for Site Preparation and Vegetation Management in Southern Interior B.C. is a web-based tool to assist in making decisions about site preparation and brushing treatments. When considering whether or not to apply site preparation or vegetation management treatments on a particular site it is necessary to consider a wide variety of factors, such as: (1) the relative importance of various limiting factors, including vegetation abundance, on seedling performance; (2) predicted development of the post-harvest vegetation community; (3) expected conifer and vegetation responses to a range of possible treatments; and (4) constraints to treatment application. It is difficult for silviculturists to integrate the wide variety of information that is currently available, and consider how it relates to the specific characteristics of a particular site. An interactive, web-based ‘Expert System’ has been developed to assist silviculturists in making decisions about site preparation and vegetation management treatments in the southern interior of B.C. This tool synthesizes information from a variety of sources, including PROBE (PRotocol for Operational Brushing Evaluation), published research studies, and a variety of regional experts, and allows the user to comprehensively evaluate a variety of treatment options.
The Expert System uses site-specific information, such as that collected on the FS39A silviculture prescription form. The information is entered by the user, and the Expert System uses it to do the following:
Predict which vegetation complex is most likely to develop following harvest.
- Consider the relative importance of different limitations to seedling establishment (i.e., soil water, soil temperature, air temperature, soil nutrients, vegetation, root rot, rooting substrate).
- Assess the potential effects of various site preparation treatments on these limitations.
- Compare alternative site preparation options, including ‘no treatment’, and suggest which will most reduce the limitations to seedling establishment.
- Predict development of the vegetation community following site preparation.
- Following seedling establishment, consider the relative importance of light, soil temperature, soil water, and root rot limitations to seedling performance at various stages of vegetation development.
- Assess the potential effects of various brushing treatments on these limitations.
- Compare brushing options, including ‘no treatment’, and suggest which will most reduce the limitations to seedling survival, growth, and ability to meet free-growing objectives.
- Prepare a report explaining the effects of particular site preparation or brushing treatments on growth-limiting factors and the likely responses of conifer seedlings and vegetation (literature citations are provided).