2020 Critical update to Caltrans wildfire vulnerability analysis

The data and materials presented here support a research project conducted by UC Davis in support of Caltrans, a transportation agency that is conducting a wildfire vulnerability risk assessment for fuels reduction in the right of Way (ROW) to protect Caltrans’ infrastructure and travelers. We reviewed the 21 layers used in a 2019 fire risk model and updated input spatial data as available. We then reran the risk assessment for 2020 and developed an updated risk map. The risk map was used to rank the highway network into 4 classes: Top 10%, top 17% (cross comparable with the 2019 priority routes), top 20%, & top 30%.

Here is the abstract from the associated report.

Catastrophic wildfires over the past five years (2015-2020) have caused damage to the Caltrans road network in 81 separate wildfire events, leading to expenditures of over $590,000,000 to repair highway assets.  To reduce the risk of further wildfire damage and to improve public safety, particularly for disadvantage...