Richard (Siqi) Mo | ALES Graduate Seminar

Date(s) - 08/08/2024
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
760 General Services Building (GSB), University of Alberta, Edmonton AB

Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree. This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Richard (Siqi) Mo. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.

MSc with Dr. Jen Beverly.

Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/92232851676

Thesis Topic: Modeling wildfire perimeter formation for strategic containment line planning in the boreal forest region of
Alberta, Canada

Abstract:

The influence of landscape factors on wildfire cessation is understudied over large spatial and temporal scales. This thesis tests the hypothesis that key landscape factors significantly impact fire cessation by analyzing 109 wildfire perimeters in Alberta’s boreal region from 2008-2018. Five categories of landscape factors—water, topography, fuel, previous burns, and human activity were chosen from spatial datasets. Algorithms for automated matched case-control data sampling and extraction were developed, significantly reducing processing time. A combined model of conditional logistic regression and Random Forest machine learning identified that fire boundaries often form in areas with aspen, grass, water, and lower topography, mixedwood with up to 60% conifer percentage, and recent burns. This modelling framework predicts fire cessation probability and could aid wildfire management by guiding resource allocation and supporting proactive measures for key areas. It can potentially be an additional tool for strategic containment line planning, helping agencies make informed triage decisions and plan containment lines effectively.


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