iLand Submodules

iLand is designed with a modular architecture that allows extending the core model with optional submodules. These submodules cover localized geographical conditions, special vegetation layers, trophic interactions, or scaling utilities.

The following submodules are currently available:

Permafrost (POLE-FM)

The POLE-FM (Permafrost Organic Layer Ecosystem Forest Model) submodule simulates boreal forest soil-organic layer and frozen soil dynamics. It tracks soil temperature profiles, active layer depth, and carbon/nitrogen dynamics in permafrost regions.

Ungulate Browsing

The Ungulate Browsing submodule simulates the spatially explicit impact of browsing by large herbivores on regeneration. It calculates height-growth reduction and browsing probability of saplings based on browse availability and animal densities.

Understory & Grass (Ground Vegetation)

The Ground Vegetation submodule models the forest floor vegetation layer (understory herbs, mosses, and grasses) and its competition with young tree cohorts for light and belowground resources.

Scaling Vegetation Dynamics (SVD)

The SVD submodule provides a deep-learning based framework for upscaling vegetation transitions. iLand is used to classify vegetation into structural/functional states and export training data for neural networks at the resource unit scale.