Difference between revisions of "SIMO"

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== General System description ==
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System name: SIMulation and Optimization
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Acronym: SIMO
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=== Brief overview ===
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SIMO is an open-source program for forest management planning. It has been designed with adaptability in mind. You can decide what your data, growth and operation models are like, and how they are applied in the planning process. In fact, SIMO has such a flexible basic structure, that simulations and optimization aren't even limited to forest management planning
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[[Category:Not finished articles]]
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[[Category:Decision support system]]
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[[Category:Open Source]]
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[[Category:Help documents]]
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__TOC__
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{{DSS description, FORSYS problem types classification
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{{DSS, Name, responsible organisation and contact person
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|Has full name=SIMO
|Spatial context=
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|Has acronym=SIMO
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|Has wiki contact person=jussi.rasinmaki@simosol.fi
|Decision making dimension=
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|Has wiki contact e-mail=jussi.rasinmaki@simosol.fi
|Objectives dimension=
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{{DSS description, Utilisation scope
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{{DSS, Software identification
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|Has software=SIMO.Software
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{{DSS description, Functional description
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{{DSS, Description
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|Has description=SIMO has been designed so that it could be adapted to various planning proglems and scales. The flexible data model allows the computing units to be basically anything; a tree, a stand, a raster cell
|Silvicultural regime=
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|Has modelling scope=Economical indicators, Forest indicators, user defined
|Forest management goal=
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|Has temporal scale=Long term (strategic), Medium term (tactical)
|Risk evaluation=
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|Has spatial context=Non spatial, Spatial with neighbourhood interrelations, Spatial with no neighbourhood interrelations
|Input data requirements=
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|Has spatial scale=Forest level, Regional/national level, Stand level
|Modelling dimension=
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|Has objectives dimension=Multiple objectives
|Planning scenario=
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|Has goods and services dimension=Market wood products
|Parameterised GUI=
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|Has decision making dimension=Single decision maker
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|Has forest management goal=biomass estimation, carbon sequestration, climate change impact, economic evaluation, fertilization
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|Supports tree species=Any
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|Supports silvicultural regime=even-aged, uneven-aged/natural regeneration, uneven-aged/plantation, user defined
 
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{{DSS description, Models and techniques to support decision making
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{{DSS, Concrete application
|Optimisation algorithm=
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|Has user profile=Non-industrial private owners, forest owners associations, national forest administration, local administration, IT company
|MCDM methods=
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|Has country=Finland
|Knowlegde management methods=
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|Has number of users=<=30
|Forest models=
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|Has number of real-life applications=<=30
|Ecological models=
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|Has utilisation in education=used by students
|Social models=
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|Data mining=
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|Uncertainty evaluation=
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|2D map interface=
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|3D map interface=
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{{DSS description, Support for knowledge management processes
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{{DSS, Decision support techniques used in the DSS
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|Has decision support techniques=SIMO.Decision support techniques
|Supported KM processes=
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|Has knowledge management processes=SIMO.Knowledge management process
 
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{{DSS description, Support for participatory planning
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{{DSS, Support of Knowledge Management
|Participatory planning tasks supported=
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|Has knowledge management processes=SIMO.Knowledge management process
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|Has support for social participation=SIMO.Support of social participation
 
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{{DSS description, Development process
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|Has support for social participation=SIMO.Support of social participation
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|Has DSS development=SIMO.Description of DSS development
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{{DSS description, Commercial information
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{{DSS, Documentation
|Can be used commercially=
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|Has website=http://www.simo-project.org
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|Has manual=Yes
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|Has technical documentation=Yes
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{{DSS, Non-wood forest products
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|Has NWFP support=SIMO.puolukka
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|Has NWFP support=SIMO.mustikka
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|Has NWFP support=SIMO.sienet
 
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=== Scope of the system ===
 
SIMO is a general simulation and optimization framework, which means that SIMO supports various forest simulators and optimization methods. Currently, a tree-level growth simulator and stand-level growth simulator for Finland, along with a number of tropical plantation simulators have been implemented in SIMO.
 
 
For solving different forest planning problems, SIMO includes alternative heuristic optimization methods as well as an interface to JLP linear programming library.
 
 
One of the basic ideas in the development of SIMO has been modifiability. Among many other thing, for example simulation logic, growth and yield models, the data model are all user modifiable in SIMO.
 
 
Currently SIMO is mainly an expert's tool as it does not include any graphical user interface. However, a project for developing a GUI for SIMO is under way.
 
 
=== System origin ===
 
* Originally developed at the Department of Forest Resource Management, University of Helsinki, during 2004-2007. The development project was funded UPM-Kymmene Ltd., Tornator Oy, Metsämannut Oy, Metsähallitus, Forestry Development Centre Tapio and the Forestry Centres, and The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes).
 
* Currently, the lead developer of SIMO is Simosol Oy. Development of SIMO is done also in the Universities of Helsinki and Joensuu
 
* The main aims in the development of SIMO was to produce modular software that was adaptable, extendable and flexible. User modifiable parts of the system are XML documents and the generic program code is written in Python and C. SIMO is a cross platform framework, so it runs on Windows, OS X, and LINUX.
 
* SIMO is released under the open source GPL 2.0 license
 
* At the moment, SIMO is used as a research tool, in teaching, as well as for practical forest planning purposes.
 
 
=== Support for specific issues  ===
 
The support for specific issues depends on the given simulator/model implementation. The extendability of SIMO makes it easy add new models to the system when new issues need to be addressed.
 
 
Currently, the tree-level and stand-level simulators for Finland include models for estimating biomass and carbon sequestration, various economical indices and detailed harvest models for assessing the effects of different timber harvests.
 
 
Analyzing various random processes and effects, such as forest inventory errors, growth projection errors and stochastic timber assortment prices, is fairly easy with SIMO as it includes a built-in Monte Carlo simulator.
 
 
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
 
* Silvicultural
 
* Certification
 
* Conservation
 
* Restoration
 
* Transportation
 
* Development choices / land use zoning
 
* Policy/intervention alternatives
 
* Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)
 
 
=== Capability to support decision making phases ===
 
SIMO does not yet include any GUI, making if purely an expert's tool. However, the modular structure of SIMO makes it straightforward to integrate into existing DSSs.
 
 
(Click [[Simo's decision making model|here]] to see a more detailed explanation)
 
* Intelligence (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
 
* Design (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
 
* Choice (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
 
* Monitor (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
 
 
=== Related systems  ===
 
...
 
 
 
== Data and data models ==
 
 
=== Typical spatial extent of application ===
 
SIMO has been designed so that it could be adapted to various scales. The flexible data model allows the computing units to be basically anything; a tree, a stand, a raster cell etc.
 
 
=== Forest data input ===
 
Forest data input depends on the data model. Typically, forest planning input data is at stand- or tree species stratum-level, and sample plot data at tree-level.
 
 
== Models ==
 
 
=== Forest models ===
 
All forest models, or sub models, in SIMO are implemented in so-called model libraries, which makes the re-use of models easy. SIMO model libraries currently include over 400 different published models for forest growth, diameter distributions, biomass, carbon sequestration, and economic indices. Most of the models are for the commercially managed tree species in Finland (Scots pine, Norway spruce, birches), but a number of models for various tropical plantation species (i.e. Eucalyptus cloeziana, Pinus kesiya) have been also added to SIMO model libraries.
 
 
SIMO model libraries contain also a number of different forest operation models, that can be used with different forest simulators. Reuse of existing model implementations is possible as the model libraries are dynamically linked libraries, that can be written in Python, C/C++, and Fortran.
 
 
== Decision Support ==
 
 
=== Definition of management interventions ===
 
The possible management interventions depend on the simulator implementation. Typically, different types of harvests and silvicultural treatments are scheduled and incomes by timber assortments and costs are addressed.
 
 
=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
 
The models can be used for various temporal scales, from short-term to long term planning problems. The time step of the simulations can be freely modified to suit the chosen temporal scale.
 
 
=== Decision-making processes and models ===
 
Forest planning problems can be solved using some of the SIMO's built-in heuristic optimization methods, or by linear programming using an interface to the JLP package.
 
 
== Output ==
 
 
=== Types of outputs ===
 
Simulation and optimization results, such as the various forest attributes and operation incomes and costs among other things, are stored in SQL databases, from which different types of outputs can be produced using SIMO's reporting tools.
 
 
 
== References ==
 
 
=== Cited references ===
 
Kangas, A., & Rasinmäki, J. 2008. SIMO – Adaptable Simulation and Optimization for Forest Management Planning. University of Helsinki
 
Department of Forest Resource Management Publications 41.
 
 
Rasinmäki, J., Kalliovirta, J. & Mäkinen, A.  2009. SIMO: An adaptable simulation framework for multiscale forest resource data.  Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 66: 76–84.
 
 
Tokola, T., Kangas, A., Kalliovirta, J., Mäkinen, A. & Rasinmäki, J.  2006.  SIMO – Simulointi ja Optimointi uuteen metsäsuunnitteluun.  Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 1/2006: 66-71. (in finnish)
 
 
 
=== External resources ===
 
http://www.simo-project.org
 

Latest revision as of 15:17, 1 September 2013

Wiki quality control

Has flag N/A

Name, responsible organisation and contact person

Has full name SIMO
Has acronym SIMO
Has wiki contact person jussi.rasinmaki@simosol.fi
Has wiki contact e-mail jussi.rasinmaki@simosol.fi

Software identification

Has software SIMO.Software

Description

Has description SIMO has been designed so that it could be adapted to various planning proglems and scales. The flexible data model allows the computing units to be basically anything; a tree, a stand, a raster cell
Has modelling scope Economical indicators, Forest indicators, user defined
Has temporal scale Long term (strategic), Medium term (tactical)
Has spatial context Non spatial, Spatial with neighbourhood interrelations, Spatial with no neighbourhood interrelations
Has spatial scale Forest level, Regional/national level, Stand level
Has objectives dimension Multiple objectives
Has related DSS
Has goods and services dimension Market wood products
Has decision making dimension Single decision maker
Has forest management goal biomass estimation, carbon sequestration, climate change impact, economic evaluation, fertilization
Supports tree species Any
Supports silvicultural regime even-aged, uneven-aged/natural regeneration, uneven-aged/plantation, user defined

Concrete application

Has typical use case
Has user profile Non-industrial private owners, forest owners associations, national forest administration, local administration, IT company
Has country Finland
Has references about examples of application
Has number of users <=30
Has number of real-life applications <=30
Has utilisation in education used by students
Has research project reference
Has tool dissemination

Decision support techniques used in the DSS

Has decision support techniques SIMO.Decision support techniques

Support of Knowledge Management

Has knowledge management processes SIMO.Knowledge management process

Support of social participation

Has support for social participation SIMO.Support of social participation

DSS development

Has DSS development SIMO.Description of DSS development

Documentation

Has website http://www.simo-project.org
Has online demo
Has manual Yes
Has technical documentation Yes
Has reference

Non-wood forest products

Has NWFP support SIMO.puolukka

Non-wood forest products

Has NWFP support SIMO.mustikka

Non-wood forest products

Has NWFP support SIMO.sienet