Simulate BAU management scenario

For getting used to the Forest Studio app, you will run your first simulation using the default Business as usual (BAU) management scenario, and explore forest dynamics and economic analysis outputs.

Follow these steps for your first task.

1 Choose a management scenario

  1. Go to the Management Scenario page on the leftside navigation bar.

    • Here you will inspect the BAU (Business as Usual) management scenario. This scenario is read-only, so your aim is to analyse it, not change it.

  2. Zoom out using Ctrl + - (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + - (Mac).

    • You can zoom in again pressing Ctrl + + (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + + (Mac).

  3. Collapse the navigation sidebar by pressing (arrow at the top-right of the sidebar).

    • You can reopen the navigation sidebar by pressing .

In the left-side Management Scenario window:

  1. Ensure BAU (default) is selected in the dropdown management scenario list (should be selected by default).

  2. Collapse the Choose Management Scenario section by pressing the arrow at the left of the title.

  3. Review the three BAU tables by pressing each of the titles: MU, Species, Clear Cut.

  4. Spend a minute browsing what’s applied per MU accross all tables.

  5. Press Show Filters in the Filters & Bulk Actions section.

  6. Filter MUs by Groups, MU IDs, or Dominant Species to narrow down the view and inspect the tables better.

Review the Table description to identify what each column represents.

2 Create a simulation

  1. Go to the Run Simulation page.

  2. Choose a clear simulation name (avoid special characters).

    • Suggestion: YourName_BAU

  3. Make sure the BAU (Default) management scenario is selected.

  4. Set 100 years to simulate.

  5. Click Start Simulation.

  6. Monitor the progress in the Simulation Status right pane.

  7. Your simulation is ready when you see:

3 Inspect Forest Dynamics

  1. Go to the Forest Dynamics page.

  2. Click Select Simulation.

  3. Select the simulation you just ran (it should be the only one available).

  4. Leave the plotting parameter fields as they are by default:

    • Management Units: Landscape (All Units Combined)
    • Year Range (x axis): 1 to 100
    • Graph bars: None
    • Show initial reference lines selected

  5. Click Load Data. Once the data is loaded, you will be able to see the graph.

  6. Inspect the graph. You can hover to see exact values.

  7. Use Download Chart to export the plot. This will be useful later for reports or cross-scenario comparisons.

  8. Feel free to experiment with different plotting parameters to understand how each element interacts with each other.

4 Understand Economic Implications

  1. Go to the Economic Analysis page.

  2. Click Select Simulation.

  3. Select the simulation you just ran (it should be the only one available).

  4. The graph is rendered automatically with the default parameters:

    • Plot Type: Net Revenue (CHF/ha)
    • Management Units: Landscape (All Units Combined)
    • Species: All species selected

  5. Try plotting each of the available types and analyse them:

    • Volume (m³/ha)
    • Price (CHF/m³)
    • Cost (CHF/m³)

  6. Use the Species dropdown to select which species curves to display (you can show multiple at once).

    • For practice, click Deselect All, pick one species, and analyze the curves.

5 Visualize Year Snapshots

  1. Go to the Forest Snapshot Viewer page.

  2. Your simulation will be selected by default

  3. Select a year for which you want to visualize the snapshot in the map.

  4. Press Load Tree Data

  5. Close the Forest Snapshot Viewer tab to visualize the map clearly

6 Inspect and Download Tables

  1. Go to the Table Viewer page.

  2. Click Browse Files

  3. Select your simulation

  4. Search for the table representing the process you want to review and the year (number next to the name). Options are:

    • Economic Analysis: Each row represents a species within a management unit
    • Mortality: Each row represents a tree that died and points to the management unit it belonged to.
    • Harvest Thinning: Each row represents a tree that has been harvested and points to the management unit it belonged to.
    • Regeneration: Each row represents a tree that has appeared because of regeneration.

For a detailed explanation on what each column represents go to the Table description

You can download the data as csv if you want to review it/analyse it somewhere outside the app.