Forest Fire Danger Rating System on Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, OKI District, South Sumatra

Abstract

KBDI could be used as a tool for early fire detection as it is capable of providing daily fire danger information. However, KBDI is not a good indicator of fire danger for region with climate and soil conditions different from Florida, USA where it was firstly developed. This study aimed to: (a) determine the optimum model parameters of KBDI for SBAWI, South Sumatra, (b) develop FDRS information systems based on Geographic Information System, and (c) apply KBDI model for other locations in the SBAWI. Several data were observed during period of 1 April 2009 – 11 May 2010 including rainfall, air temperature, water table depth, and soil water content in hourly basis. The data were used to obtain new, optimum KBDI parameter values for wetland in the region through optimization process. The process was done using Solver to obtain minimum of root mean square error (RMSE) between measured dryness index and KBDI calculation. The process produced several equations for calculating KBDI in the region. Water table depth was very critical for forest fire as it influences soil water content in upper soil layer. By maintaining water table depth at least 0,659 m, the fire danger in the region would be reduced. The results showed that if water table depth was more than 0.659 m, the KBDI would increase rapidly. The study developed FDRS information system that provided several facilities among others for: (a) calculating KBDI at other stations in the region, (b) providing information about spatial distribution of fire danger at 1 km resolution, (c) updating daily observed data, and (d) providing information of daily charts of rainfall, KBDI, air temperature and water table depth. Overall the FDRS information system was able to detect fire danger level throughout the SBAWI region.