BACKGRND.TXT - 2nd of 19 digital documentation files distributed
               with the "Forest Fire Chronology of Saskatchewan"
               (FFCS) dataset.


<Document overview>

     Describes aspects of the FFCS dataset that allows users to
     discern the potential of the FFCS for their applications.
     Provides basic FFCS information such as project inception
     and intent, data content and quality, and key geographical
     parameters such as extent and scale.  Lists the acronyms
     used in all digital documentation files.


<Genesis of the dataset>

     While developing management parameters for woodland caribou,
     Wildlife Branch saw the need for a spatial dataset of large
     forest fires of Saskatchewan.  Such a dataset was seen as
     useful for determining the role of fire on woodland caribou
     migration and habitat usage patterns.  It was also clear
     that this dataset would be a valuable tool for the
     management of other boreal forest wildlife species.
     Finally, the dataset was seen as useful for other
     applications such as demonstrating the role of wildfire in
     the boreal forest.


<Dataset intent>

     The FFCS provides temporal snapshots of large fires
     throughout Saskatchewan forests.  Gross delineation of
     boundaries alone was intended.


<Spatial extent>

     The extent of the burn coverages are based on recorded
     wildfires that occurred within provincial jurisdiction
     forests in Saskatchewan.  Consequently, fires that occurred
     strictly within federal lands (i.e., within the Primrose
     Lake Air Weapons Range, and Prince Albert National Park) are
     not part of the dataset.  Fires that crossed
     provincial/federal jurisdictional boundaries (such as the
     Deer fire of 1993) however, are included in the dataset in
     their entirety.

     The spatial extent of individual fire coverages from year to
     year is highly variable.  This variability is the function
     of the distribution, frequency, and size of fires in a given
     year.


<Data filter>

     Only fires greater than 1,000 hectares or larger are
     included in the dataset (with the odd exception of fires
     over 900 hectares in size).


<Source document scale>

     Most fire boundaries were delineated at a medium-to-small
     scale (1:250,000) thereby prohibiting mapping of small
     fires.  As expected, a certain amount of feature
     generalization occurred in the mapping process.


<Non-burn exclusions>

     Areas delineated in the dataset are considered as "burns".
     However, it should not be assumed that these areas were
     completely burned.  Pockets of non-burn areas within the
     burns may have occurred.  Non-burn area land types include:

          -lakes and rivers
          -marshes, muskegs, and other wetlands
          -exposed rock (in the Canadian shield)
          -"green" non-burned timber areas
          -timber harvest areas (regenerating)
          -cleared areas (non-regenerating)
          -brushland, meadows, riparian areas
          -areas of value (resource improvement areas, resorts)


<Potential for detailed analyses>

     Detailed analyses of the content of the gross burn area
     (amount of burned timber/treed muskeg etc) should be
     performed using larger (1:50,000 to 1:12,500) scale maps on
     a burn by burn basis.  With the possible exception of some
     of the 1995 fires, the FFCS was not compiled to allow for
     detailed analyses.


<Acronyms used in the digital documentation files>

   AAT  - Arc Attribute Table
   ESRI - Environmental Systems Research Institute (authors of
          the Arc/INFO GIS)
   FFMB - Forest Fire Management Branch
   FFCS - Forest Fire Chronology of Saskatchewan
   GIS  - Geographic Information System
   GPS  - Global Positioning System
   NTS  - National Topographic Series (basemaps)
   PAT  - Polygon Attribute Table
   SERM - Saskatchewan Environment & Resource Management



This document prepared by:

Ott Naelapea
Wildlife Branch
Saskatchewan Environment & Resource Management
Box 3003, 800 Central Avenue
Prince Albert, SK.  S6V 6G1
CANADA
(306)953-2671 - Tel.
(306)953-2750 - Fax.

November 28, 1996
