The Big Data, Mapping, and Analytics Platform (BIGMAP) Project
Description
To produce maps of various characteristics of US forests at all locations, based on field plots measured by the US Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program only at some locations.
Detailed example
Maps with predictions of various forest attributes for all of the contiguous United States and coastal Alaska.
AI / analytics pattern
Classical/Predictive Machine Learning: Models trained on data to make predictions or classifications based on identified patterns or relationships.
Automation level / stage
c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
Expected benefit
BIGMAP maps can be used for visualizations, modeling, and decision-making at regional and sub-state scales. Provides greater precision in estimates and leads to more informed decisions about the forest resources in the US.
Controls / human review
ATO: Yes; PIA: Not published
Data needed
Data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and the Forest Inventory and Analysis Database (FIADB) were used to finetune and validate the models used.