Install

LANDIS-II v8 has been released!

The LANDIS-II Foundation board members and our dedicated programmer have been diligently working for the past 12 months on LANDIS-II v8.  All of the funding came from user training.  Thanks to all of you for attending training sessions over the years to support this effort.  Version 8 resolves many outstanding issues.  Most exciting, all extensions are now cross-compatible, fulfilling our original goal set out in 2005 of creating a model that was a true platform for mixing and matching various representations of succession and disturbance.  

V8 has many updates and fixes. Our last update (V7) was in 2017. Here they are listed in order of importance:

• Universal Cohort Libraries:  We have fundamentally restructured cohort libraries for full cross-compatibility across extensions.  See here for more information:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y_zW1inqNO85QVUvBQB4J3x1FM9hWMgSloUnS_ktxNQ/edit

  • As a result, Age-only Succession has been retired.

  • Other extensions that were designed to work primarily with Age-only Succession were also retired, e.g., Base Harvest.  For each of these, there was a suitable replacement that utilized more of the data captured in the Universal Cohort Library.

  • Also, the Initial Community had to change to accommodate they dynamic features of the Universal Cohort Library.  Only CSV inputs are supported now.

• We added full scenario metadata, including extension versions.  These data are now reflected in the main log file.

• We built model ‘pause’ into the Core.  This feature enables a model pause, during which input data could be re-loaded.  

• We updated .NET to use the latest version 8.

• We removed Shade and Fire Tolerance from the primary species input file.  These are no longer universal parameters for succession or fire disturbance, respectively.

• We added Full Name to the species input file.  For many outputs, the full name may be preferable over the species code.  

• The Climate Library has been updated with a new input format and it is MUCH FASTER.

• Other minor updates:  

  • Various minor code changes (relevant only to developers)

  • The restructuring of GitHub repositories for consistency 

Now, we are dedicated but not perfect.  When (not if) you discover errors or discrepancies, contact the developer for each extension and please be patient as we resolve errors.  In particular, the User Guides often receive the least attention during updates.  We welcome user feedback!

How Do I Update to v8 from v7?

Updating the model and extensions is easy, see below. Updating existing projects from v7 to v8 will not always be easy!  There are two large changes that will need to be made, and many smaller changes.  

The big changes:

1.  The initial community input file must be a CSV file.  The is detailed in the Model User's Guide below.

2.  The Climate Library input format is also now a CSV file with standardized headers.  The associated configuration file has also modestly changed.

Depending on how you originally created these files, the process for updating them may be easy or challenging.  

Other smaller changes include:

• Shade tolerance and Fire tolerance need to be removed from the primary species file.

• These same parameters may need to be added to the succession or fire extension, respectively.

• Some extension names have changed.

• There may be other minor modifications to extension inputs.  These vary widely from none-at-all to more substantial input format changes.  For each extension, visit the extension website, view the updated user guide, and download the example files.  The example files have all been extensively tested and are operational.

Installation Requirement: Join the User Group

You MUST BECOME a member of the LANDIS-II Users Group and be logged in to access any LANDIS-II files.  In order to join the group, you will need to create a Google account.  You can create a Google account using your current email address; there is no need for you to create a gmail account.  After you have created your Google account and joined the Users Group, you will automatically be granted access to the installers below and all extension installers.   You do not need to request permission after following these steps.

Primary Model User Guides

The two documents listed below provide a conceptual overview of the core LANDIS-II model and provide the User Guide for using the LANDIS-II core. Information about individual ecological processes can be found in the individual extension users guides and the peer-reviewed literature. See the Extensions page for documentation for individual extensions. These on-line User Guides will be the most up-to-date.

LANDIS-II Model Description v8 (PDF) An overview of the LANDIS basic assumptions.

LANDIS-II Model User's Guide v8 (PDF) A computer manual for running the model.

Ready to Install?

1.   Join the LANDIS-II users group.

2.  Install .NET Core Desktop Runtime v8

3.  If you have previously installed LANDIS-II (any version), you must uninstall the old version.  Unfortunately, you cannot run more than one version on a desktop computer.  Go to Settings and uninstall, then go to the installation directory and delete all of the existing program files.

4.  Install LANDIS-II v8.0

5. Open the downloaded .exe file and when prompted, click run. This will start the LANDIS-II Setup Wizard.

6.  Read the LANDIS-II Model Introduction and LANDIS-II Getting Started, both available on the Users tab.

7.  Download the extensions you need (see below).

Next, we recommend that you install these 'starter' extensions.  They are simple to use and provide a great introduction:  

• •   Biomass Succession

  •   Original Fire

  •   Original Wind

  •   Maximum Age Output

Every extensions requires a separate download.  Each of these extensions has its own web site with installer that is accessible from the Extensions Page.   There are examples provided for each extension on their respective examples page.

What Happened to LANDIS-II v7?

Note: LANDIS-II v7 has been retired but is available by request.  Diligent GitHub devotees will have no problem finding all things v7.