EPIC & Wildfire Risk Tutorial

EPIC & Wildfire Risk Tutorial – Student Guide Objectives 1) Learn how to use the GIS software EPIC 2) Perform a simple GIS analysis related to wildfire risk Introduction For the Geographic Information System (GIS) assessment, this project will use a GIS software program called EPIC. EPIC is a raster-based program that identifies geographic features by giving a geographic grid of an area different values for each cell or pixel of the grid. The geographic data is represented by layers. Each layer identifies characteristics on the landscape. For example, a pine layer may show where all the pine is in a community by coloring various pixels red, for pine. This means that the majority of the area defined by that pixel (or square) is covered in pine trees. There are several powerful tools in the EPIC program. There are analysis tools to help identify which areas in a community to concentrate their efforts in. There is also a digitizing tool called a tag editor that allows you to create your own data based on characteristics of points on the landscape. Lesson 1 – Getting to know EPIC 1) Start up the EPIC program by double clicking the EPIC icon on the Epic2001.icodesktop 2) Navigating the EPIC program - Tools The words highlighted in black are the options available to you (File Analysis Report View Map Window Help) - Speed buttons. Below are Icons we call speed buttons. More appear as you open a map. These buttons access almost ...