About the Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System

 

The Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System (ESC-DSS) applies the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) methodology and provides a user friendly way of working out options for tree species and native woodland communities on individual sites.

Site information required

From the basic site information entered by the user (grid reference, elevation and soil type) the climatic factors are calculated.

If more information is known about a site (e.g. rooting depth, soil texture and stoniness) a more precise estimate of the soil wetness can be made.

If lithology is known this is combined with soil type to provide a more precise estimate of soil fertility. Humus form can give even more precision, but the best estimate of soil fertility is gained from a knowledge of the plants on the site. ESC-DSS uses two models to assess fertility using 132 indicator plants that commonly occur in woodlands, grasslands and heathlands.

Soil quality information

Two methods are offered for entering soil quality information:

• ESC to Go
  A shortcut method that gives an approximate estimate of moisture and fertility from quickly made observations of the soil and vegetation at the site
   
• ESC Pro
  Allows very precise description of the soil type and lithology, the humus form, and plants.

ESC-DSS accepts both the presence and percent cover of the plant indicator species from vegetation surveys using up to 10 quadrats.

The ESC plant survey method is similar to the method recommended for National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey, but the ESC Pro method requires key soil attributes to be recorded. An ESC survey therefore requires a more comprehensive soil survey assessment than the typical NVC survey.

Suitability models

The site information is linked to ESC suitability models for 20 of the 25 NVC woodland communities (W1-W20) and 25 species of tree using a 'fuzzy membership function' approach. The fuzzy membership function describes the degree of suitability of the species or woodland community to each ESC site factor.

User friendly system

ESC-DSS includes a set of cue cards that leads the user through the site analysis and the species and woodland community suitability assessment. It includes an on-line help system containing background information.

System requirements

Microsoft^® Windows^® 3.1, 95,  98, or NT4
486 processor or better
4 Mbytes free hard disk space
8 Mbytes RAM (minimum)
CD-ROM drive

Note: ESC-DSS databases remain on CD. The program will not run without the CD installed.