PLATA
Project Level
Analysis of Treatment
Alternatives
PLATA is a Windows-based application for doing economic analysis of a
planning project. PLATA does an 'efficiency' analysis, using net
present value, cost/benefit ratio, and annual equivalent value.
It also calculates trust fund sufficiency, allocates treatment costs by
fund code, lets you compare any number of alternatives. Two types
of reports can be produced: a customized, detailed report for a single
alternative, and a report that compares selected alternatives. A No Action
alternative is automatically created for each project. The report comparing
alternatives is designed for NEPA documentation.
PLATA is two programs. The Default Database
Builder is used to construct Area Default sets that are specific to some
user-defined geographic area (like a National Forest, or a Ranger District).
These Area Default sets are then used in the Project Builder for the base
data for project analysis. Project Builder users set up a project
analysis, define alternatives, enter activity costs, planning costs and
outputs (timber or otherwise), and run customized reports. Area
Default items can be used directly, or defaults may be edited, or new
items can be added.
Regional transactions evidence appraisal
methods can be incorporated into a PLATA analysis to compute expected
stumpage prices: the advantage of this is that the same price is computed
as that of an actual appraisal. This preliminary appraisal is useful in
planning projects because it helps to identify potential problems early
on; for example, whether a sale offering would be expected to sell. PLATA
analysis is not limited to timber sales: forest stewardship projects can
be analyzed with PLATA.
Forest Economics Research at RMRS currently
supports economic analysis in the Northern Region by providing the Area
Default sets for each National Forest in the Region. These Area Defaults
sets use the Transactions Evidence Appraisal models published by the Regional
office, local prices, and local Forest Service average costs. Other users
are invited to seek support for Area Default maintenance; we are available
to assist in setting up Area Defaults in any Region.
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for more detail about PLATA, including sample reports
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Area Default, Model or Table Sets
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