Getting Started¶

New to wildland fire science tools and resources? This page provides pathways to help you quickly find the right tools and tutorials for your specific goals.

"I want to..."¶

Improve my daily efficiency with AI¶

Start using AI assistants to enhance your research workflow:

• ChatGPT or Claude - Writing assistance, code generation, data analysis → AI Tools
• Microsoft Copilot - Integrated into Office 365 for document creation → AI Tools
• GitHub Copilot - AI pair programming for code development → AI Tools
• Perplexity - AI-powered research with citations → AI Tools

Analyze satellite imagery and remote sensing data¶

Work with Earth observation data for fire monitoring and analysis:

• Google Earth Engine - Cloud-based planetary-scale analysis with 50+ year satellite archive → Computing
• GEEMap Python Package - 360+ Jupyter notebooks for GEE tutorials → Software
• Microsoft Planetary Computer - Open Earth observation data and analysis tools → Computing
• NASA FIRMS - Real-time global fire detections from MODIS and VIIRS → Data Sources
• QGIS - Free desktop GIS for satellite imagery analysis → Software

Run fire behavior models¶

Simulate fire spread and behavior:

• FARSITE - 2D fire growth simulation model → Software
• FlamMap - Landscape-scale fire behavior mapping → Software
• BehavePlus - Point-based fire behavior prediction → Software
• WFDSS - Wildland Fire Decision Support System with integrated models → Data Sources | Software

Monitor active fires in real-time¶

Track current fire incidents and get alerts:

• Watch Duty - Community-driven fire alerts and scanner audio → Mobile Apps
• InciWeb - Official incident information → Data Sources
• NASA FIRMS - Near real-time satellite fire detections → Data Sources
• NIFC Open Data - Current fire perimeters and statistics → Data Sources
• GACC Pages - Regional coordination center updates → Data Sources

Work with lidar and point cloud data¶

Process and analyze 3D point clouds:

• PDAL - Point cloud processing library → Software
• CloudCompare - 3D point cloud visualization and editing → Software
• FUSION - Lidar processing and analysis → Software
• OpenTopography - Access to lidar datasets → Data Sources
• USGS 3DEP - National lidar coverage → Data Sources

Contribute to open science¶

Learn collaborative research workflows:

• GitHub - Version control and code sharing → Software
• Jupyter Notebooks - Reproducible computational narratives → Software
• Zenodo - Archive research data and code with DOIs → Data Management
• FAIR Data Principles - Make research findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable → Data Management

Get weather and environmental data¶

Access meteorological and ecological datasets:

• RAWS Stations - Remote Automated Weather Stations → Data Sources
• NOAA Weather - Forecasts and fire weather → Data Sources
• NEON - National Ecological Observatory Network → Data Sources
• Ameriflux - Eddy covariance flux tower data → Data Sources

Learn fire ecology and management¶

Educational resources and training:

• Wildland Fire Management RD&A - USFS Research and Development → Data Sources
• FRAMES - Fire Research and Management Exchange System → Data Sources
• Fire Ecology Journal - Open access research → Data Sources
• Online Courses - MOOCs and webinars → Training

Learning Pathways¶

For Students & Early Career Researchers¶

1. Start with QGIS for basic GIS skills → Software
2. Learn Google Earth Engine for cloud-based analysis → Computing
3. Explore Python or R for data science → Software | Software
4. Join communities on Slack/Discord → Community
5. Attend conferences like AFE or IAWF → Community
6. Explore training courses and certifications → Training

For Fire Managers & Practitioners¶

1. Access WFDSS for decision support → Software
2. Use mobile apps for field operations → Mobile Apps
3. Monitor GACC pages for regional coordination → Data Sources
4. Subscribe to InciWeb for incident updates → Data Sources
5. Connect with professional networks → Networks
6. Take NWCG training courses → Training

For Remote Sensing Specialists¶

1. Master Google Earth Engine or Microsoft Planetary Computer → Computing | Computing
2. Learn AI/ML tools for image analysis → AI Tools
3. Explore WIFIRE tools and datasets → Data Sources | Software
4. Use TorchGeo or Raster Vision for deep learning → AI Tools
5. Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub → Software
6. Take NASA ARSET remote sensing courses → Training

Need More Help?¶

• Browse by category - Use the navigation menu to explore Tools, Data, and Networks
• Join the conversation - Connect with fire science communities → Community
• Take a course - Find training and educational resources → Training
• Professional networks - Connect with organizations and working groups → Networks
• Manage your data - Learn best practices for organizing and sharing research → Data Management
• Hardware & field tools - Explore drones, sensors, and field equipment → Hardware
• Suggest additions - Open an issue on GitHub with questions or suggestions