Fuel Sampling - Wildland Fuel Fundamentals and Applications - page 126

Table 8.1 Comparison of possible surface fuel sampling methods and techniques to estimate fuel loading for forest and rangelands. In general, the techniques are
arranged in the order of easiest with most variability and uncertainty to the most difficult but more accurate and precise. Abbreviations and codes are as follows: Fuel
component are the fuel components in Table 3.1 that can be sampled with this method; sampling time is the time it takes to get estimates (1: fast, 10: slow), level of
uncertainty is the amount of uncertainty in fuel loading estimates (1: highly certain to 10: highly uncertain), cost is the relative cost of implementing technique (1:
inexpensive to 10: costly), and training needed is how much training is needed to get acceptable estimates of fuel attributes (1: low to 10: high)

Technique Description Advantages Disadvantages Fuel

components

Sampling
time

Level of
uncertainty

Cost Training

needed

Indirect methods—association techniques
Existing data Use existing data from

other areas to extrapolate to
the project area

Many fuel attributes
may be available

Fuel conditions are
highly variable across
sites depending on dis-
turbance history

All 1 8 3 2

Vegetation Existing data are summa-

rized by vegetation type
and these summaries are
assigned to project area
based on vegetation type

Most people can
identify vegetation
types

Vegetation not related
to fuels

All 3 7 4 2

Map value Use mapped values as fuel

estimates

Represents local area Fuel maps have low

accuracies

All 1 9 2 1

Indirect methods—visual techniques
Eye estimate Estimating loading from

visual inspection

Integrates local
knowledge

Highly inaccurate with
high user bias. Requires
extensive training

All 3 7 3 8

Photo series Use a local photo series

publication to visually
assess fuel loadings at the
project area

Many series avail-
able; quantify many
fuel comp. and
attributes

Requires training; rarely
assessed for accuracy

All 4 6 3 6

Photoload Use a series of photo-

graphs that show fuelbeds
with gradually increasing
loading

One set of photos
good for most woody
fuelbeds

Doesn't include all fuel
components; requires
training

1, 10, 100,
and 1000 h,
shrub, herb

5 5 3 7