This page includes a general description of the product, please consult the schedule and version pages for information specific to each release.
LANDFIRE's (LF) Forest Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) describes the density of available canopy fuel in a stand. It is defined as the mass of available canopy fuel per canopy volume unit. CBD unit measurements are kg m3 * 100. These products are provided for forested areas only. Canopy Base Height (CBH) and Canopy Bulk Density (CBD) are calculated using the program FuelCalc designed by Elizabeth Reinhardt of the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. This program ingests plot data (including species, diameter at breast height (DBH), height, height to live crown, canopy cover, and trees per acres) and computes CBD using species-specific allometric relationships. CBH is assumed to equal the height at which CBD becomes 0.012 kg m3.
CBD first incorporated Annual Disturbance products during LF 2008 production. The introduction of this information allowed for informed changes to the assigned CBD from disturbance type, severity, and time since the disturbance.
Beginning with LF 2016 Remap, and beyond, an improvement for fuels products in disturbed areas was implemented. Fuels are now adjusted to expected current year vegetation conditions for disturbances that have occurred between certain select years that vary by the version. Beginning with LF 2022, capability is implied in the naming convention.
LF 2016 Remap and beyond includes a 90-kilometer buffer along the 1,500 miles of the eastern and southern borders AK shares with Canada. Then with the LF 2020 update, and future updates, for the Conterminous United States (CONUS) a 90-kilometer buffer into Mexico is also included.
CBD supplies information for fire behavior models, such as FARSITE, to determine the initiation and spread characteristics of crown fires across landscapes.
Data Access
Map Viewer
Full Extent Downloads
Forest Canopy Bulk Density Resources
LF Definitions, Quality, and Standards - provides information about contributors, metadata and data standards, data creation, and data testing. This document also provides details about our general data release process.
LF Dictionary - a “one-stop shop” general resource that provides information about products, Attribute Data Dictionaries (ADDs), data and metadata, and terms.
LF Version Comparison Table - view the version history for each individual product.
LF Naming Conventions - understanding the version number
LF Definitions, Quality, and Standards - provides information about contributors, metadata and data standards, data creation, and data testing. This document also provides details about our general data release process.
LF Dictionary - a “one-stop shop” general resource that provides information about products, Attribute Data Dictionaries (ADDs), data and metadata, and terms.
LF Version Comparison Table - view the version history for each individual product.
LF Naming Conventions - understanding the version number