Iteration 7

• Phase: Construction
• Dates: January 24 - February 16, 2005

Tasks to be Completed

+ Core Modules

• Design the interface for the Ecoregions module, and then write the code to implement the module.
• Revise the Species module to add two parameters (minimum resprouting age and serotiny) and to remove an obsolete parameter.
• Design the interface that disturbance extensions will use to specify a reproductive method (seeding, resprouting, planting) at disturbed sites.
• Design and then write the code for a new core module which will contain various interfaces to cohorts (basic cohort with age, cohort with biomass data).
• Revise the Raster I/O module to simplify its interfaces and their implementation, replacing random-access I/O with sequential-access I/O.
• Assist Barry as needed, on an in-house custom implementation of the interfaces in the Raster I/O module.

+ Extension Components

• Write the code to implement the reproductive methods of seeding and resprouting for the Age-only Succession component.
• Write the code to load the parameters for the Age-only Succession component from its input file (includes species establishment coefficients).
• Update the Age-only Wind component to use the newer interfaces to the core modules.

+ Documentation

• Update the use-case documentation with revisions from the last review meeting.
• Update the wind documentation with revisions from the last review meeting.

Assessment

+ Summary

The iteration did not accomplish as much as hoped due to some unexpected contingencies: a new build method, finishing work on the raster IO, and vacation time. Nevertheless, many critical pieces were put into place and an internal release is still expected at the end of the new iteration.

+ Hits and Misses

Miss Radically underestimated the time required to implement the NAnt build method. This build method streamlines the process of compiling executable code.

Miss Underestimated the time requried to finish the raster I/O library. Also, Barry still needs to implement ERDAS 8/16 bit read and write.

Hit Ecoregions module completed, including input text file.

Hit Species module completed, including input text file.

Hit/Miss Reproduction Interface still needs some work, although significant progress was made.

Hit/Miss Reproduction partially implemented. However, serotiny and planting needs to be added to seeding and sprouting.

Hit Age-only cohort module completed.

Miss Seed dispersal algorithm. The data structure for neighborhoods not done. Default seed dispersal (the BC Ward method) not implemented.

Miss Age-only succession input text file not completed.

Miss Wind module still not updated with appropriate interfaces, due to continued interface flux.

Hit Wind documentation updated.

+ Lessons Learned

We need to better track what the contingencies will be and allocate time for them. This will help the project leader to assess the relative merits of various tasks, given our priorities.