Forest Change Analysis Lab
Disturbance ecology | Forest management | Data science
The Forest Change Analysis Lab (FOCAL) at the University of California, Davis works at the intersection of disturbance ecology and data science. We collect and analyze data to inform forest management in an era of climate change, drought, and large high-severity wildfires. We rely as much on large geospatial datasets as on field-based measurements of forests. We work closely with forest managers in an effort to address pressing forest management needs.
Current Research
Drone-based forest mapping
Developing methods to map forests at the individual tree level using drones, photogrammetry, and computer vision
Early post-fire regeneration
Using drone and field data to understand how well post-fire regeneration is explained by very early (1-2 years post-fire) canopy conditions
Post-fire conifer seed production
Evaluating how weather, climate, and fire injury affect the magnitude and timing of conifer seed production
Fine-scale fire severity patterns
Using high-resolution satellite imagery along with plot data to build tools for rapid mapping of surviving trees following fire
Post-fire conifer seed dispersal
Combining drone-based tree maps and field surveys to model seed dispersal and tree regeneration across post-fire landscapes
Fuel accumulation and reburn severity
Analyzing statewide fire severity data to model fuel accumulation rates and predict fire seveirty in reburns
Predictability of regeneration trajectories
Revisiting existing post-fire vegetation plots to assess how well the initial regeneration response predicts the longer-term trajectory
Understanding reforestation outcomes
Collecting and analyzing field data to understand the drivers of post-fire reforestation outcomes
Forest mortality and recovery
Analyzing large geospatial and plot-based datasets to understand drivers of drought-related forest mortality and the potential for post-drought recovery
Contact
- djyoung@ucdavis.edu
- Derek Young, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616
- Plant and Environmental Sciences Building
- Lab member contact info