Keane, Robert

Robert E. Keane is a Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. He received his B.S. degree in forest engineering from the University of Maine, Orono; his M.S. degree in forest ecology from the University of Montana, Missoula; and his Ph.D. degree in forest ecology from the University of Idaho, Moscow.

Bob’s most recent research includes 1) developing ecological computer simulation models for the exploring landscape, fire, and climate dynamics, 2) sampling, describing, modeling, and mapping of fuel characteristics, and 3) investigating the ecology and restoration of whitebark pine. He has developed the CRBSUM, LANDSUM, FireBGC, and FireBGCv2 landscape simulation models. He developed the first versions of the FOFEM (First Order Fire Effects Model) and he has written several fire hazard and analysis programs (WXFIRE, FIREHARM). He also assisted in the development of FIREMON – a FIRE MONitoring sampling and database management system – and ECODATA – an ecological inventory system.