TreeSim: An object-oriented individual tree simulator and 3D visualization tool in Python

Abstract

TreeSim is an open-source, user-extendable framework that offers new opportunities for users to model, simulate, visualize, and animate the dynamics of forest. It provides a general environment for modellers to implement and evaluate forest growth models. In this paper, we introduce the object-oriented architecture for our proposed simulator and examine its performance to model and simulate forest growth, management, and dynamics. The simulator uses various models to predict the dynamics and attributes of forest (e.g., regeneration, increment, mortality, biodiversity, biomass, carbon, dead wood). Finally, TreeSim can be integrated into a simulation–optimization framework for decision-making support.

Keywords

• Large scale simulation
• Forest dynamics
• Forest growth modelling
• Ecosystem services
• Forest carbon