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Comparison · Infra & APIs

forestTIME vs onemap

A side-by-side editorial comparison of forestTIME and onemap — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

forestTIME vs onemap: at a glance

FeatureforestTIMEonemap
SectorInfra & APIsInfra & APIs
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesforest-inventory, carbon-estimation, fia-data, interpolationgenetic-mapping, linkage-analysis, genotyping-by-sequencing, mappoly
Last editorial update2h ago58m ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is forestTIME?

A forest-inventory pipeline grew the strata machinery it needs to make population estimates.

forestTIME turns US Forest Inventory and Analysis data into annualized carbon and biomass estimates by interpolating between the years each plot is actually measured. Version 2.2.0 adds fia_assign_strata(), which matches every plot-year to an EVALID, estimation unit and stratum along with the values needed for population-level estimation with variance. The composite ID scheme also changed order, which breaks joins written against the old one.

Read the full forestTIME trajectory →

What is onemap?

A genetic-mapping mainstay that now points new users toward MAPpoly at load time

OneMap constructs genetic linkage maps for experimental crosses, and its 3.x line turned it into a hub in a wider mapping toolchain: export functions for VIEWpoly and QTLpoly, summary and interactive ordering functions adapted from MAPpoly, and retention of reference and alternative allele information from imported VCFs. The most recent release, 3.2.0 in January 2025, adds an announcement about MAPpoly to the README and the package load message, fixes a subscript-out-of-bounds warning in rf_2pts and refreshes vignettes and tests.

Read the full onemap trajectory →

forestTIME vs onemap: editorial side-by-side

F
forestTIME
INFRA · APIS
0.0

A forest-inventory pipeline grew the strata machinery it needs to make population estimates.

◆ Current state

forestTIME turns US Forest Inventory and Analysis data into annualized carbon and biomass estimates by interpolating between the years each plot is actually measured. Version 2.2.0 adds fia_assign_strata(), which matches every plot-year to an EVALID, estimation unit and stratum along with the values needed for population-level estimation with variance. The composite ID scheme also changed order, which breaks joins written against the old one.

◆ Where it's heading

The arc runs from a duckDB-backed script to a package with a design-based estimation story. First the database layer was removed in favour of a single interpolated table; then the function surface was consolidated behind fia_ names and fia_annualize(); then expansion factors appeared; now the stratification the FIA estimators actually require. Each step moves closer to producing estimates users can put an error bar on rather than interpolated numbers.

◆ Prediction

The notes name a temporary workaround for woodland species, whose carbon and biomass code is missing, and say fia_estimate() will eventually handle them directly. That, plus variance calculation built on the new strata columns, is the visible next work.

O
onemap
INFRA · APIS
0.0

A genetic-mapping mainstay that now points new users toward MAPpoly at load time

◆ Current state

OneMap constructs genetic linkage maps for experimental crosses, and its 3.x line turned it into a hub in a wider mapping toolchain: export functions for VIEWpoly and QTLpoly, summary and interactive ordering functions adapted from MAPpoly, and retention of reference and alternative allele information from imported VCFs. The most recent release, 3.2.0 in January 2025, adds an announcement about MAPpoly to the README and the package load message, fixes a subscript-out-of-bounds warning in rf_2pts and refreshes vignettes and tests.

◆ Where it's heading

Versions 3.0.0 and 3.1.0 were driven by a benchmarking preprint on genotyping-by-sequencing best practice, and their content follows directly: marker filtering from two-point estimates, memory reduction after filtering, and optimisation of find_bins and map_avoid_unlinked. What has happened since is signposting rather than capability — a package that spent two releases integrating with MAPpoly now tells users about it every time it loads. The pre-3.0 tags are backfilled, with versions 2.3 through 2.7 sharing a single August 2021 timestamp, so their order carries no information.

◆ Prediction

The load-message announcement suggests attention is flowing toward the MAPpoly side of the toolchain; expect maintenance and compatibility releases here rather than new mapping algorithms.

Alternatives to forestTIME and onemap

Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either forestTIME or onemap.

See all forestTIME alternatives → · See all onemap alternatives →

Recent activity from forestTIME and onemap

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 6mo agoforestTIMEStrata assignment opens the door to population-level estimates
  2. 11mo agoforestTIMERenamed from forestTIME.builder, adds expansion factors
  3. 1y agoforestTIMEFunction surface consolidated behind fia_ names
  4. 1y agoforestTIMEInterpolation stops producing impossible trees
  5. 1y agoforestTIMEduckDB dropped for a single interpolated table
  6. 1y agoforestTIMESnapshot before carbon estimation existed
  7. 1y agoonemapMAPpoly announcement added to README and load message
  8. 3y agoonemapExports to VIEWpoly and QTLpoly; marker ordering and map summaries
  9. 3y agoonemapTwo-point marker filtering and memory reduction
  10. 4y agoonemapPSOCK and FORK parallelization choice; vcfR as an import
  11. 5y agoonemaphmm=FALSE option for ordering algorithms
  12. 5y agoonemapMDSMap dependency removed

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between forestTIME and onemap?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. forestTIME and onemap are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is forestTIME better than onemap?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. forestTIME and onemap are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to forestTIME?

Top forestTIME alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "forestTIME alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/foresttime for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to onemap?

Top onemap alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "onemap alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/onemap for the full list with editorial commentary on each.