duet-tools: A python package for interacting with the DUET program

Fuel modeling is a key avenue for understanding dynamics of fire-vegetation interactions across landscapes. Three-dimensional (3D) fuel models are used as inputs for fire behavior models to develop strategies for prescribed fire application and wildfire risk assessment and mitigation. Distribution of Understory using Elliptical Transport (DUET) is a recently developed program for creating surface fuel inputs for 3D fuel models. DUET simulates litterfall from 3D tree canopy inputs and grass growth, producing spatially heterogeneous estimates of fine fuel distribution and characteristics in foresteddomains. Here we introduce duet-tools, a Python package that streamlines the process for creating DUET simulation input files and calibrating the values in DUET output files. The package handles two primary aspects of the DUET workflow: (1) programmatic creation and management of the DUET input file with validation and documentation, and (2) calibration of fine fuel outputs towards values provided by online data sources or directly from the user. By simplifying these tasks, duet-tools allows modelers and managers to more easily interact with the DUET program while incorporating locally accurate fuels data.