Development of Fire Management Tools to Maximize Training Days and Minimize Habitat Conversion at a Southwest Military Installation

The contract involves the development of advanced statistical models and spatial analyses to better understand and manage fire regimes at a military installation in the Southwest. It focuses on variables such as fire frequency, predictability, intensity, seasonality, and size, aiming to create tools that enhance wildfire management. The ultimate objective is to increase the number of training days available at the installation while minimizing habitat loss and maximizing resource productivity. The project requires the use of sophisticated numerical modeling techniques, including Maxent for species distribution, Random Forests for scientific data analysis, General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) for mathematical programming, generalized linear models (GLIMs), and geographic information systems (GIS). This initiative is managed by the Space and Naval Warfare Command Systems Center Pacific under the Department of Defense and is located in San Diego, California. The contract was posted in March 2010 and involves developing predictive and analytical tools to inform fire management strategies that balance operational readiness with environmental conservation. These tools will enable the military installation to more effectively anticipate fire behavior and ignition patterns, supporting informed decision-making to sustain training activities and protect critical habitats.