![WRI/GFW/FORMA/alerts](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/images/WRI/WRI_GFW_FORMA_alerts_sample.png)

Dataset Availability
:   2012-01-01T00:00:00Z--2019-05-18T00:00:00Z

Dataset Producer
:


    [World Resources Institute / Global Forest Watch](https://www.globalforestwatch.org/)

Tags
:
    [daily](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/daily) [deforestation](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/deforestation) [fire](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/fire) [forest](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/forest) [forma](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/forma) [gfw](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/gfw) [modis](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/modis) [monitoring](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/monitoring) [wri](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/wri)

#### Description

**NOTE from WRI** : WRI decided to stop updating FORMA alerts. The goal was
to simplify the [Global Forest Watch](https://www.globalforestwatch.org)
user experience and reduce redundancy.
We found that [Terra-i](http://www.terra-i.org/terra-i.html) and
[GLAD](https://glad-forest-alert.appspot.com/) were more frequently used.
Moreover, using GLAD as a standard, found that Terra-i outperformed
FORMA globally.

FORMA alerts are detected using a combination of two MODIS
products: NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and FIRMS
(Fires Information for Resource Management System). NDVI updates are
processed every 16 days, while fire updates are processed daily. Models
are developed individually for each ecogroup to relate the two inputs to
the area of clearing, using the Hansen annual tree cover loss data to train
the model. The minimum threshold to qualify as an alert is 25% of the pixel
cleared, though thresholds vary by ecogroup to minimize false positives.
Here is an [example script](https://code.earthengine.google.com/f29b1e4360f3fc36847bd789ceeb20f6)
for a quick introduction to the FORMA datasets.

The percentage of clearing takes a value of 0, no clearing detected,
or in the range \[ecogroup_bound:100), where ecogroup_bound is given by
WRI/GFW/FORMA/thresholds .
The time periods over which data is collected varies by N-days, where N is the number
of days between the alert_date and the last MODIS NDVI update.

### Bands

**Bands**

Pixel size: 250 meters (all bands)

| Name | Units | Min | Max | Pixel Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `alert_delta` | % | 0 | 100 | 250 meters | Percentage of clearing which during the 6 MODIS periods (96 + N days) preceding the corresponding alert_date value for the pixel |
| `alert_date` | ms |   |   | 250 meters | Timestamp in milliseconds since 1970/01/01 |

### Image Properties

**Image Properties**

| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| date | STRING | Date, in "YYYY-MM-DD" format, of the last available data in this dataset |
| last_firms_date | STRING | Date, in "YYYY-MM-DD" format, of the last available FIRMS data included in this dataset |
| last_modis_date | STRING | Date, in "YYYY-MM-DD" format, of the last available MODIS NDVI data included in this dataset |
| nday | INT | Number of days since last MODIS NDVI update |
| year | INT | Year of the most recent data included in the dataset |

### Terms of Use

**Terms of Use**

The FORMA datasets are available without restriction
on use or distribution. WRI does request that the
user give proper attribution and identify WRI and GFW, where applicable,
as the source of the data.

### Explore with Earth Engine

> [!NOTE]
> **Important:** Earth Engine is a platform for petabyte-scale scientific analysis and visualization of geospatial datasets, both for public benefit and for business and government users. Earth Engine is free to use for research, education, and nonprofit use. To get started, please [register for Earth Engine access.](https://console.cloud.google.com/earth-engine)

### Code Editor (JavaScript)

```javascript
var dataset = ee.Image('WRI/GFW/FORMA/alerts');
var formaAlerts = dataset.select('alert_delta');
var formaAlertsVis = {
  min: 25,
  max: 75,
  palette: ['d65898', 'da68a2'],
};
Map.setCenter(6.746, 46.529, 6);
Map.addLayer(formaAlerts, formaAlertsVis, 'FORMA Alerts');
```
[Open in Code Editor](https://code.earthengine.google.com/?scriptPath=Examples:Datasets/WRI/WRI_GFW_FORMA_alerts) [FORMA Alerts](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/WRI_GFW_FORMA_alerts) NOTE from WRI: WRI decided to stop updating FORMA alerts. The goal was to simplify the Global Forest Watch user experience and reduce redundancy. We found that Terra-i and GLAD were more frequently used. Moreover, using GLAD as a standard, found that Terra-i outperformed FORMA globally. FORMA alerts are detected ... WRI/GFW/FORMA/alerts, daily,deforestation,fire,forest,forma,gfw,modis,monitoring,wri 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z/2019-05-18T00:00:00Z -50 -120 40 180 Google Earth Engine https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets

- [](https://doi.org/https://www.globalforestwatch.org/)
- [](https://doi.org/https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/WRI_GFW_FORMA_alerts)