Harper Overview

Herbage Assessed Remotely to Predict Environmental Risk (HARPER) process

The HARPER project is currently inactive.

The criteria for developing the HARPER process included utilizing no-cost imagery, desktop computers and readily available low or no-cost analysis programs (ARC GIS PRO) that do not require formal GIS training. Landsat satellite imagery was initially used then European Union sentinel satellites.

HARPER Process:


The Wildland Solutions HARPER process is a satellite-based assessment tool to efficiently monitor mulch/RDM retention on California Annual Grassland sites.


The HARPER process is designed to help answer three questions related to mulch/RDM retention levels.

  • What is the estimated mulch/RDM retention level for all forage areas?
  • What is the overall condition/status of each Management Unit (MU)? Are there large areas of unacceptable low mulch levels or significant lightly used areas with high levels of mulch?
  • What is the estimated range of available Animal Use Months (AUMs) for each MU when surveyed? Where are the areas of high mulch/RDM located?

Current high resolution satellite imagery, 40 plots/acre, is used to classify mulch levels within each MU.


HARPER results are then provided as 2 maps and 3 summary data tables that assist the rangeland manger’s ability to interpret and understand the data.


Question 1, regarding mulch/RDM retention levels information is displayed with Figure 2-Classified Mulch Retention Map and summarized with data Table 1-Mulch Retention. Information is shown as High, Moderate and Low mulch, plus Burned and Other (forest, shrub, facilities).


Question 2, regarding the overall condition/status of each MU is displayed with Figure 3-MU Status Map and summarized with data Table 2-MU status. Figure 3 and Table 2 are derived from the same data initially created for Table 1. The MU status is a measure of conditions that is not available when mulch monitoring is focused on average use or minimums. Historic information regarding MU status is also included in data Table 2 to help evaluate if current year results are recent or long-term.


Question 3, The estimated AUM’s potentially available within each MU is displayed with Figure 2-Classified Mulch Retention Map and summarized as data Table 3-Available AUMs. The location of areas with high mulch levels can be determined by reviewing the mulch retention map, Figure 2. Estimates of potentially available forage is provided in Table 3 for each MU.


Two products were developed.

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