Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 27 (2000) 407–412 Extended abstract MapModels: a new approach for spatial decision support in silvicultural decision making Leopold Riedl, Harald Vacik *, Robert Kalasek Institute of Siliculture, Uniersity of Agricultural Sciences, Peter Jordanstr. 70, A-1190 Vienna, Austria www.elsevier.com/locate/compag In forest management planning emphasis is being placed not only on timber production but also on values such as recreation, amenities, wildlife and the role of forests in securing sustained water resources. In the mountainous terrain of Austria, forests additionally provide protection against soil erosion and natural hazards such as avalanches and rockfall. Forest managers are challenged by the task to trans- form these forest management objectives into silvicultural prescriptions for a particular stand, when considering appropriate future species mixtures or silvicul- ture measurements. Identification of management objectives at the stand level and evaluation of management practices which best meet these forest level goals require the develop- ment and application of models. Spatial decision support systems (SDSS) can be a valuable tool for analysis of such complex spatial decision problems in multiple purpose forest resource planning (e.g. Rauscher, 1999). In general terms, SDSS are computer-based systems for integrating data base management systems with analyt- ical and operational research models, graphic display, tabular reporting capabilities and the expert knowledge of decision makers to assist in solving specific problems (Fischer et al., 1996). They include techniques for input, storage and processing of spatial information and provide output in spatial forms. Through a user-interface that is both powerful and easy-to-use data and models are combined in a flexible manner to allow for an operational evaluation and selection of decision alternatives * Corresponding author. Tel.: +43-1-476544050; fax: +43-1-476544092. E-mail address: vacik@edv1.boku.ac.at (H. Vacik) 0168-1699/00/$ - see front matter © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0168-1699(00)00096-X