As
a result of the May 2000 Cerro Grande Fire, an immense amount
of data are being generated in regard to the fire’s
complex, ongoing effects on soils, water, vegetation, structures,
and property. A Geographic Information System (GIS) can
show the time and spatial relationships of these datasets,
allowing changes caused by the fire to be analyzed and visualized.
The GIS utilizes computer technology that makes these specialized
data available to Laboratory and external users via a simple
web interface. The intent is to provide a Laboratory resource
for consolidating important fire-related data. This will
assist scientists and emergency managers in anticipating
long-term forest fire effects and in dealing with future
emergencies in the Los Alamos area.
