Chromatic Coding (ConForest_RGB) for the Detection of Spatial-Temporal Patterns in Collective Lands in Galicia (Spain)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The study "Chromatic coding (ConForest_RGB) for the detection of spatial- 2 temporal patterns in collective lands in Galicia (Spain)” seems to be interesting and important. The developed chromatic coding links three factors (wildfires, news reports and court rulings) and allows to detect spatial and temporal patterns and thus expand understanding of the impact of social conflicts. Such a methodology can enhance our understanding of the impact of social factors on fire risk. However, I suggest some improvements to the manuscript, described below.

Introduction

In general, the introduction corresponds to the construction rules of this part of the article, but it does not answer some of the main questions. For example: Why were areas of community ownership chosen for analysis? What is known about the number of fires/burnt area/causes of fire in other forest areas - public and private? In addition, the hypothesis of study is not clearly described. Without this description, it is difficult to judge whether the authors reject or approve the hypothesis.

25 - Fire is one of the greatest risks to property and people, although there are others. (Franciosi et al., 2020)

25 - Fire is a vague concept. Which types of fire are you referring to (e.g., forest fire, wildfire, extreme wildfire events, urban fire)?

28 - [10] - Replace link. This article is about fire risk assessment, not erosion and desertification.

46 - [27] According to the reference, human pressure is one of the most important drivers of wildfires in central Chile. Please cite an international study or add similar examples from other countries.

54-56 - The phrase is confusing because it does not clearly describe the cause-and-effect relationship with the undergrowth.

58-59 - In this case, accidental/negligence fires do not affect the houses?

64-65 - This sentence is confusing and seems incomplete. Also, keep the style. Numbers must be written in number or in words.

131 - Please explain the abbreviation MVMC as it is used here for the first time in the text of the document (not counting the abstract).

2. Materials and Methods

It would be interesting to learn about the difficulties that the authors encountered in collecting information from the 3 main sources analyzed.

192 - Figure 2 Specify the software used to create maps and diagrams of the chromatic code.

3. Results

The discussions’ part is interesting but can be expanded. Can you please discuss some of the most notable findings from the study? How are these consistent with other studies that have examined Galicia's forests?

255 - Table 4 Word "area" in the table title creates confusion. Are the results presented by MVMC units or by their area?

272 -273 Please indicate what numbers 0 to 14 mean in the table header.

280- 282 Figure 4 represents one of the parts of methodology figure 2. I see no need to repeat it. You can refer to Figure 2.

284-291 - Repetition of one of the parts described in the "Methodology"

322-326 - In the description of Figure 6, it is not clear what column (b) means.

4. Conclusion

The advantages of the ConForest_RGB method and possible next steps in its development are described. Point out the weaknesses of your method.

 

Franciosi, C., Giambelli, M., Bertran, M., Martí, G., Garcia, C., Hörl, J., Serra, M., Hengst-Ehrhart, Y., Maier, C., Hartebrodt, C., Plana, E., Espinosa, C., Pagès, D., Gasulla, N., Canaleta, G., Vendrell, J., Andrecs, P., Hagen, K., Plörer, M., … Skulska, Y. (2020). Report on impacts of climate change projections on wildfires, floods, storms, avalanches, rockfalls, landslides and multi-hazard risk management. Deliverable 3.1. RECIPE Project (Reinforcing Civil Protection capabilities into multi hazard risk assessment . 874402 - UCPM-2019-PP-AG. 223 pp. Retrieved from https://recipe.ctfc.cat/results/

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Overall the paper reads well and presents a topic of interest to readers. The data gathered by the authors is particularly helpful. It would benefit the community if the authors considered providing the data alongside the publication. The primary issue with the paper in its current form is the intended use case of the RGB model is not made clear. It would be good to clarify this objective and augment the discussion section to present how the simplified visualization meets this objective.

Some specific comments:

1. The first statement of the introduction "fire is the greatest environmental risk to property and people" is a bold statement that the references don't support entirely. Fire is a significant environmental risk to property and people, but suggesting it is a higher risk than other environmental hazards such as severe storms would require more discussion.

2. Additional detail on the processing of the data should be added. This should include any pre-processing steps, and any assumptions used to join the data (e.g., different grids/resolution of the data).

3. Figure 6 and Figure 7 label on the map where (a)-(c) are located, respectively.

4. Additional discussion on potential biases in the data should be added. Are news outlets more likely to report on certain regions than others (i.e., a fire must be more devastating in one region to be reported than in another)?

5. The first statements in the discussion are another broad claim not directly supported by the references. The prior work by the authors was limited to 2 years of data in a single geographic region. This is the same region of interest in this study, but the statement should be modified to reflect that.

6. How sensitive are the quantitative results in Tables 4-6 to the angular split? If the regions are shifted +/- 5, 10 degrees are the trends similar?

7. How were the bands selected for each color? (i.e., why is >60 fires related to 255 in the red channel, why is >20 articles related to 255 in green, and 9-10 court proceedings related to 255 in blue).

8. The authors indicate that the qualitative RGB map presents complex statistics in an easy to interpret format. Who are the target users of this model? Expanding the discussion section to further discuss the expected use cases and provide exemplars of how the model is achieving this objective would be helpful.

9. The authors establish several hues in Table 2 showing different permutations. I was expecting to see this referred to again through a table summarizing the overall quantities of each class observed (total or region), or through key developments over time.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

1. I suggest presenting a figure with the 15 colored geographic maps (relative to 15 years) to permit the reader have an idea of ​​the evolution of the results of the three mixed information;

2. The graphs in figures 6 and 7 do not allow the reader to spatially identify the color information and affect the perception of the spatial and temporal evolution of the three variables studied in the article;

3. I recommend including the future work of analyzing the statistical (at least a correlation) relationship between the variables studied, as I believe that would be the greatest result of the article and would justify the research carried out;

Minor corrections

4. I believe it is 3.17% of fires on line 370;

5. In table 5, use different acronyms for fires and news other than INC and NOT, more intuitive, or indicate the meaning in the title of the table;

6. Cite articles in the second paragraph of the introduction (line 35) on mathematical models that associate factors of occurrence and behavior of forest fires;

7. I suggest improving the quality of the images.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The “Chromatic coding (ConForest_RGB) for the detection of spatial-temporal patterns in collective lands in Galicia (Spain)” is a very interesting, relevant, and innovative scientific study. In general, all my comments were considered, and this version of the manuscript is better than the previous one. However, here is a list of some small suggestions for improvement.

 

Abstract

9 - factors comes → factors come

14 - Montes Vecinales en Mano Común (MVMC) ← please indicate that this is a special type of property and tenure right

Briefly specify the possible future application/improvement of the developed model.

Introduction

The introduction is very well done. Is it possible to add a research hypothesis?

wildfire

31 – cause → causing

31 - cause dozens of deaths annually [11] and in some years hundreds (Oliveira et al., 2020).

52 -53 “Human pressure” - repeated in 2 adjacent phrases.

53 – a wildfire

55-56 Too sharp a jump in the geographical scale - from the Mediterranean region to Brazil. Please add a couple of sentences to make the example more gradual/ logical

57 - More factors, therefore, need

71 – Also,

75 - and others → and other

81 - different formats → various formats

84 – ranges  → range

139 - However, the social conflict

141 - It is, therefore, necessary

153 - working units

2. Materials and Methods

160 - (Table 1)

161 - green (G) is the number

162 - blue (B) is the number

170 - the chromatic

191 - an paper

194 – allow → allows

195 - in a the first phase

196 - out by taking

 

Area of study and validation

Figure 3. The description of the first paragraph of the section “Area of study and validation” is about the total forest area of Galicia, while Figure 3 shows only the distribution of the MVMCs.

249 - news were was

258 - I'm not sure about the correct usage here of the term - transcendental.

26 – competences → competencies

Results

In Table 4, I propose to put the line "Average area of MVMC" immediately after the line "MVMC". Thus, it is easier for readers to visualize the number and average area of the studied units.

Is Figure 4 a repetition of some part of Figure 2? The MVMCs, represented in Fig. 4 belong to which of the eight geographic sectors, set out in Fig.1?

371 – sectors

376 - 300 MCVMs ← Please indicate what is the percentage of the total number of MCVMs?

Discussion

411, 414 - aging→ ageing

437 - to the conflict.

Conclusions

489 - on its type

 

Suggested reference:

Oliveira, M., Delerue-Matos, C., Pereira, M. C., & Morais, S. (2020). Environmental Particulate Matter Levels during 2017 Large Forest Fires and Megafires in the Center Region of Portugal: A Public Health Concern? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1032. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17031032

 

 

Author Response

Reviewer 1 round 2
Open Review
(x) I would not like to sign my review report ( ) I would like to sign my review report
English language and style
( ) Extensive editing of English language and style required ( ) Moderate English changes required (x) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required ( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style
Yes
Can be improved
Must be improved
Not applicable
Is the content succinctly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are all the cited references relevant to the research?
( )
(x)
( )
( )
Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?
( )
(x)
( )
( )
Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Is the article adequately referenced?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The “Chromatic coding (ConForest_RGB) for the detection of spatial-temporal patterns in collective lands in Galicia (Spain)” is a very interesting, relevant, and innovative scientific study. In general, all my comments were considered, and this version of the manuscript is better than the previous one. However, here is a list of some small suggestions for improvement.
Abstract
9 - factors comes → factors come √
14 - Montes Vecinales en Mano Común (MVMC) ← please indicate that this is a special type of property and tenure right √
• Done. Thanks.
Briefly specify the possible future application/improvement of the developed model.
• Thank you for your recommendation. We have included the following sentences in the abstract:
This methodology is a first step towards the development of a predictive system for the occurrence of forest fires based on the existence of social conflict, but it is necessary to improve the categorisation of conflict, to analyse which other variables can be used as an expression of social conflict and to evaluate the statistical relationship between forest fires and social conflict.
Introduction
The introduction is very well done. Is it possible to add a research hypothesis?
We have included the sentence highlighted in bold:
The aim of this paper is to show the methodology developed by integrating spatial and temporal information of the conflict measured by counting journalistic news and/or judicial proceedings in which Montes vecinales en mano común (MVMC) has been involved and that by means of the proposed chromatic coding a visual way allows to easily determine the most problematic incendiary areas. We hypothesize that the existence of distinct spatial and temporal trends can be explained by analyzing the evolution of each MVMC separately over time. The fact that MVMCs have been chosen as the working units is due to the importance of this type of land tenure in Galicia, the relevance of which for the forestry sector will be described in subsequent paragraphs.
wildfire
31 – cause → causing √
31 - cause dozens of deaths annually [11] and in some years hundreds (Oliveira et al., 2020). √
• We have made the correction you indicate and included the bibliographical citation you provide. Thank you very much.
52 -53 “Human pressure” - repeated in 2 adjacent phrases.
53 – a wildfire √
55-56 Too sharp a jump in the geographical scale - from the Mediterranean region to Brazil. Please add a couple of sentences to make the example more gradual/ logical
57 - More factors, therefore, need √
71 – Also, √
75 - and others → and other √
81 - different formats → various formats √
84 – ranges → range √
139 - However, the social conflict √
141 - It is, therefore, necessary √
153 - working units √
2. Materials and Methods
160 - (Table 1) √
161 - green (G) is the number √
162 - blue (B) is the number √
170 - the chromatic
191 - an paper √
194 – allow → allows √
195 - in a the first phase √
196 - out by taking √
Area of study and validation
Figure 3. The description of the first paragraph of the section “Area of study and validation” is about the total forest area of Galicia, while Figure 3 shows only the distribution of the MVMCs.
• We have preferred to do so because the territorial unit of our work is the MVMC. Otherwise, we would have to include one more figure.
249 - news were was
258 - I'm not sure about the correct usage here of the term - transcendental. √
• We have replaced the word "transcendental" with "very useful"
26 – competences → competencies √
Results
In Table 4, I propose to put the line "Average area of MVMC" immediately after the line "MVMC". Thus, it is easier for readers to visualize the number and average area of the studied units.
• Done. Thank you very much.
Is Figure 4 a repetition of some part of Figure 2? The MVMCs, represented in Fig. 4 belong to which of the eight geographic sectors, set out in Fig.1?
Yes, figure 4 is a representation of an image included in figure 2. We wanted to do this to improve the visualisation of the methodology, as the small size of figure 2 does not allow this detail to be seen well.
We have indicated in the figure description that these MVMCs belong to the South-East sector.
371 – sectors
376 - 300 MCVMs ← Please indicate what is the percentage of the total number of MCVMs?
• Done. We have included this sentence: (45.73% of the existing MVMCs in the Southwest sector, and 75.76% of the existing MVMCs in the West sector)
Discussion
411, 414 - aging→ ageing √
437 - to the conflict. √
Conclusions
489 - on its type √
• We have made all the corrections you have kindly pointed out. Thank you very much for your help. Thanks to this, our work has been greatly improved.
Suggested reference:
Oliveira, M., Delerue-Matos, C., Pereira, M. C., & Morais, S. (2020). Environmental Particulate Matter Levels during 2017 Large Forest Fires and Megafires in the Center Region of Portugal: A Public Health Concern? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1032. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17031032

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have sufficiently responded to my previous feedback. A few minor comments:

1. I suggest changing "is usually" with "can be" in the statement:

We know that the occurrence of forest fires is usually related to the occurrence of social conflicts [35, 10, 11, 19, 21, 34, 63]. 

2. Since the objective of the work is to provide a simplified representation of complex statistics for decision-makers, it would be helpful to understand if the authors have engaged decision-makers to determine if the visualization is effective at meeting this objective.

Author Response

Reviewer 2 round 2
Open Review
( ) I would not like to sign my review report (x) I would like to sign my review report
English language and style
( ) Extensive editing of English language and style required ( ) Moderate English changes required (x) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required ( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style
Yes
Can be improved
Must be improved
Not applicable
Is the content succinctly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are all the cited references relevant to the research?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Is the article adequately referenced?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?
(x)
( )
( )
( )
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The authors have sufficiently responded to my previous feedback. A few minor comments:
1. I suggest changing "is usually" with "can be" in the statement:
We know that the occurrence of forest fires is usually related to the occurrence of social conflicts [35, 10, 11, 19, 21, 34, 63].
Done. Thanks for your advice.
2. Since the objective of the work is to provide a simplified representation of complex statistics for decision-makers, it would be helpful to understand if the authors have engaged decision-makers to determine if the visualization is effective at meeting this objective.
Thank you for your advice. We have included the sentence highlighted in bold type.
The proposed model arises as an evolution and consequence of the 15-year experience of the research group to explain, model and predict forest fires in the Mediterranean area, especially in the region of Galicia and focused on arson. Different methodologies have been developed and published, some of which are referenced in this work. Most of these methodologies are based on advanced statistical techniques, which imply that the reader and the forest manager must have an important knowledge of the applied techniques, which implies a difficulty for their transfer and handling by forest and territorial managers. However, the experience acquired over the years, during which we have studied forest fires in depth and participated in decision-making in this field, allows us to affirm that ConForest_RGB can facilitate the understanding of this problem and the decision-making of forest managers.
Submission Date
16 September 2022
Date of this review
20 Oct 2022 19:15:21
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

My suggestions were included in the text and I recommend the acceptance of the paper. 

Author Response

Reviewer 3 round 2

Principio del formulario

Open Review

( ) I would not like to sign my review report
(x) I would like to sign my review report

English language and style

( ) Extensive editing of English language and style required
( ) Moderate English changes required
( ) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required
(x) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style

 

	Yes	Can be improved	Must be improved	Not applicable
Is the content succinctly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
Are all the cited references relevant to the research?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
Is the article adequately referenced?	(x)	( )	( )	( )
Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?	(x)	( )	( )	( )

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

My suggestions were included in the text and I recommend the acceptance of the paper. 

 

Thank you very much for your work

 

Submission Date

16 September 2022

Date of this review

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx