Creating Photographic Loading Sequences In The Field For The Photoload Sampling Technique

Creating Photographic Loading Sequences in the Field for the Photoload Sampling Technique

The photoload technique provides a quick and accurate means of estimating the loadings of six wildland fuel components including 1 hr, 10 hr, 100 hr, and 1,000 hr downed dead woody, shrub, and herbaceous fuels. It involves visually comparing fuel loading conditions observed in the field with a set of photographed sequences to estimate fuel loadings; the photo sequences are a series of downward-looking oblique photographs depicting a series of graduated fuel loadings of synthetic fuelbeds for each of the six fuel components. The photoload technique has been implemented into multiple inventory and fuel monitoring projects worldwide. However, the original set of photo sequences are somewhat limited in that the fine woody fuel loading sequences were created using only Douglas-fir woody particles, and only seven shrub and four herbaceous species that are common to the U.S. northern Rocky Mountains are available for estimating shrub and herbaceous loading. To increase the accuracy and functionality of the photoload method in other geographic areas, new sequences must be created for more localized fine woody, shrub, and herbaceous fuel components specific to that area. This report details a procedure on how to create a set of photoload sequences in the field with minimal effort.

The Photoload Sampling Technique

Fire managers need better estimates of fuel loading so they can more accurately predict the potential fire behavior and effects of alternative fuel and ecosystem restoration treatments. This report presents a new fuel sampling method, called the photoload sampling technique, to quickly and accurately estimate loadings for six common surface fuel components (1 hr, 10 hr, 100 hr, and 1000 hr downed dead woody, shrub, and herbaceous fuels). This technique involves visually comparing fuel conditions in the field with photoload sequences to estimate fuel loadings. Photoload sequences are a series of downward-looking and close-up oblique photographs depicting a sequence of graduated fuel loadings of synthetic fuelbeds for each of the six fuel components. This report contains a set of photoload sequences that describe the range of fuel component loadings for common forest conditions in the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana, USA to estimate fuel loading in the field. A companion publication (RMRS-RP-61CD) details the methods used to create the photoload sequences and presents a comprehensive evaluation of the technique.

General Technical Report RMRS