Zhuoxian Tan, Jinhao Liu, Biao Sun, Haoxian Qin, Yuewei Ma
{"title":"Study of a chassis path planning algorithm for a forest harvester","authors":"Zhuoxian Tan, Jinhao Liu, Biao Sun, Haoxian Qin, Yuewei Ma","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2183462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2183462","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In this study, a global path planning method is proposed for the motion of the chassis of a forest harvester to satisfy the requirements of obstacle avoidance when the harvester is working in the forest. First, a distributed plane map is generated in accordance with the characteristics of forest environment. Subsequently, a Ms_BiRRT algorithm is proposed based on the principle of the random search tree algorithm for multi-stage target-guided global path planning, and the path is further optimized. The effectiveness of the Ms_BiRRT algorithm proposed in this study is examined through experimental simulation. Three types of map environments are designed based on the characteristics of the forest environment. The average planning time of the proposed algorithm is extended by 90.69% and 47.37%, the path length is shortened by 10.40% and 8.23%, the total number of nodes is reduced by 81.52% and 54.65%, and the node utilization rate increases from 18.47% and 44.12% to 85.46%, respectively, compared with classical RRT algorithm and two-way RRT algorithm. The path planning algorithm proposed in this study is capable of quickly reaching the target point in different environments, improving the convergence speed of the algorithm, and increasing the efficiency and stability of the forest harvester in the working process based on the initial path guidance and target guidance methods.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41917333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Vance, Jingxin Wang, Xufeng Zhang, Shawn T. Grushecky, R. Spinelli
{"title":"Chipping operations and chip quality from mixed hardwood forests for bioenergy","authors":"J. Vance, Jingxin Wang, Xufeng Zhang, Shawn T. Grushecky, R. Spinelli","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2187677","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2187677","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A mechanized 1 harvesting system combined with whole-tree chipping was investigated on two harvesting sites in central and eastern Ohio, USA. Production and machine rate data of the operations were collected through time-motion studies, with chipping sub-tasks (elements) defined as: feeding, chipping, and loading. Chipping cycles averaged 21.5 min to produce 13.3 dry (21.3 green) tonnes per truckload, providing an hourly rate of 37.3 dry tonnes per productive machine hour (PMH), excluding delays. Total cycle time including truck delivery averaged 183 min, resulting in an hourly production rate of 4.4 dry tonnes/PMH delivered. The complete harvesting system included one feller-buncher, two grapple skidders, and a chipper. Harvesting cost ranged from (USD) $22.2 to $27.8/dry tonne, at the landing. Trucking cost was $0.48/dry tonne/km for the average hauling distance of 78 km. The total delivered cost amounted to $59.9–$65.5 per dry tonne. Chips were sampled from the operations and characterized to evaluate their quality as a bioenergy fuel, according to ANSI Standard AD17225–4:2014 Solid Biofuels. Results of chip properties indicated 37.5% green moisture (i.e. water mass fraction), 0.212 g/cm3 bulk density, 10.5% bark content, 0.49% ash, and 18.59 MJ/Kg calorific heating value. Size distribution of wood chips was categorized into small (3–<16 mm) 46%, medium (16–<45 mm) 45%, and large (45–63 mm) 3%, respectively. Fines (<3 mm) composed less than 1% while 4.5% were oversize (>63 mm). These whole-tree chips were found to meet the requirements of the highest grade (A1) of the U.S. wood chip fuel quality standard for bioenergy applications.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44901206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Detailed scheduling of forest harvesting at the operational level incorporating decisions on multiple machine assignment","authors":"Rohit Arora, T. Sowlati, Joel Mortyn","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2185181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2185181","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT It is crucial to efficiently schedule harvesting activities in order to reduce the delivered cost of logs. Mathematical models have been used to optimize the harvest scheduling at the operational level. However, in the existing literature, the number of machines assigned for each activity at each cut block was not considered as a decision variable. Also, the impact of the slope of cut blocks on the precedence relationship between harvesting activities was not considered in tprevious studies. In this work, a mathematical model is developed with the possibility of assigning multiple machines for the same harvest activity at each cut block, considering the precedence relationship between activities based on the slope of cut blocks in order to minimize the total cost of harvesting. This work is an extension of our previous work on detailed scheduling of harvesting. The model is applied to the harvesting operations of a large forest company in Coastal British Columbia, Canada. The model’s result for operating cost is only 3.3% higher than the lowest possible operating cost. Only one machine has an idle time. For the same case study, the total cost of the developed model is about 34% lower than that of the previous model.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45224791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rail transport in Swedish wood supply – seasonal variation, system risks and mitigation costs","authors":"Ida Sjölling, Erik Rönnqvist, D. Fjeld","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2167379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2167379","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examines the potential for reduced risks in roundwood transport by rail. The study quantifies seasonal variation and system risks under boreal conditions, as well as practical routines for managerial response to these. The study case is based on an integrated forest company with 11 supply terminals supplying coastal mills in mid-Sweden. The terminals were distributed from south to north Sweden, with six core terminals located in the interior- and mid-supply zones for coastal mills. The monthly flows ranged from 75 to 118% of the annual average and the monthly variability of terminal inflows was 67% higher for the interior than the mid-zone terminals. Comparing inflows between assortments, the lowest variability was for coniferous pulpwood (8%) and pine sawlogs (18%), increasing thereafter to deciduous pulpwood (28%) and spruce sawlogs (53%). Regarding rail system disturbances, the frequency of deviations from scheduled routes for the core terminals was 16–17%, resulting in canceled routes for 53–65% of deviations. Two mitigation scenarios were tested to reduce supply risks (scenario 1) and a combination of supply and system risks (scenario 2). These risk mitigation scenarios had only marginal effects on system costs (< 1%). The optimal solutions, however, involved a 4–5% reduction of truck transport output (m3km per period) and 7–8% increase in rail output. From the perspective of rail operations, interviews with service buyers and providers showed that the mitigation scenarios were fully feasible on an annual planning horizon. Further options are provided for quarterly, monthly, and weekly horizons.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"34 1","pages":"294 - 302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47332435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raul Fernandez-Lacruz, Örjan Grönlund, T. Jóhannesson, Line B. Djupström, Jon Söderberg, L. Eliasson
{"title":"Harvester time consumption in nature conservation management operations","authors":"Raul Fernandez-Lacruz, Örjan Grönlund, T. Jóhannesson, Line B. Djupström, Jon Söderberg, L. Eliasson","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2174353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2174353","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In Sweden, nature conservation management (NCM) is not applied to the extent needed to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity in voluntary set-asides and formal reserves. A limiting factor is the uncertainty of the costs for the operations caused by a lack of models for estimating costs and revenues in mechanized NCM. These may explain why some operations are highly profitable while others result in a net loss. Our aim was to compare harvester time consumption in NCM operations to final felling operations and estimate the added cost. Harvesting in 14 NCM stands and 399 final felling stands were studied using follow-up data. Harvesting intensity in NCM treatments varied generally between 25% and 50% of the standing volume. Time consumption in NCM operations was 1.1 to 1.4 times greater than in final felling, depending on management goal, machine size, and tree volume. Increased harvester time consumption is not the only factor influencing logging costs in an NCM operation. Compared to final felling, forwarder time consumption is expected to increase in the same way as in thinning operations. Field visits during spring 2022 allowed visual inspections of the stands after harvest and showed that NCM plans were generally followed with minor deviations.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"34 1","pages":"112 - 116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45374384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mandira Pokharel, F. Belart, W. Chung, Brett Morrisette
{"title":"Assessment of timber faller working conditions in mixed hand and tethered-machine cut harvest units on steep slopes- A case study in western Oregon","authors":"Mandira Pokharel, F. Belart, W. Chung, Brett Morrisette","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2170149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2170149","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Adoption of tethered-assist harvester technology on steep terrain by the forest industry has decreased workplace accidents. However, there are portions of harvest units that remain inaccessible to mechanized falling, therefore requiring manual falling as well. This study characterized the differences in terrain and forest conditions between manual and machine felled areas within the same harvest units. The hypothesis is that manual fallers will work more time in challenging terrain on harvest units using both mechanized and manual falling when compared to harvest units using manual falling only. This was tested using field data from three new harvest units, six previously harvested units, timber faller surveys, and harvest managers’ interviews. For both field datasets, only slope was a statistically significant predictor of falling method. Further, both managers and fallers confirmed steep slope as one of the main reasons for requiring manual falling in addition to rocky bluffs, unstable terrain, and lack of access. This study indicates that when harvest units on steep terrain are felled with mixed falling methods, timber fallers likely work on steeper slopes than the machine, and spend a larger proportion of work hours on steeper ground than the average slope of a harvest unit.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48429625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Harvesting wind damaged trees: a study of prediction of windthrow damage in mixed-broadleaf stands via a machine learning model","authors":"V. Dimou, Kostas Demertzis, Apostolos Kantartzis","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2023.2171599","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2171599","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42636362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Kärhä, Emma Kortelainen, Antti Karjalainen, Hanna Haavikko, T. Palander
{"title":"Fuel consumption of a high-capacity transport (HCT) vehicle combination for industrial roundwood hauling: a case study of laden timber truck combinations in Finland","authors":"K. Kärhä, Emma Kortelainen, Antti Karjalainen, Hanna Haavikko, T. Palander","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2022.2163871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2022.2163871","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In this case study, the fuel consumption of a laden (i.e., the laden portion of the transport cycle) 92-tonne (92 t) high-capacity transport (HCT) timber truck combination was measured, modeled and compared to that of a normal 76 t timber truck combination in Finland. Fuel and CO2 emission savings, as well as potential resulting cost savings were also calculated for a future scenario where HCT (92 t) timber trucks are commonly utilized instead of normal (76 t) timber trucks for industrial roundwood hauling from wood terminals to mill yards. The data were collected during a long-term follow-up study in 2019 and 2020. The results revealed that the average payload weight was 27% higher for the HCT 92 t timber truck combination than the 76 t truck combination. Fuel consumption (using all two indicators, L 100 km−1 and mL tkm−1) for timber hauling with both laden vehicle combinations was higher in wintertime than summertime. The laden HCT 92 t timber truck combination had 8–11% lower fuel consumption (in mL tkm−1) than the 76 t truck combination over transport distances of 100–300 km. The calculations showed that there is a significant potential to achieve fuel, CO2 emission and cost savings using HCT vehicle combinations. On the basis of the study, it can be recommended to increase the number of energy-efficient HCT vehicle combinations in timber hauling. Consequently, lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and higher environmental performance of industrial roundwood transport can be achieved.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"34 1","pages":"284 - 293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47378634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. K. Lyons, S. A. Borz, Campbell Harvey, M. Ramantswana, Hideo Sakai, R. Visser
{"title":"Forest roads: regional perspectives from around the world","authors":"C. K. Lyons, S. A. Borz, Campbell Harvey, M. Ramantswana, Hideo Sakai, R. Visser","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2022.2160916","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2022.2160916","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper reviews the IUFRO lecture series, Forest Roads: regional perspectives from around the world. In reviewing the presentations in this series, we found that regional factors such as geology, historic climate (glaciation), current climate, topography, and ownership strongly affect forest road networks. In addition to these regional factors, it appears that historic land use affects road design and construction. We define three road classifications: pioneer, mature, and plantation. In a pioneer road network, there is an existing forest resource and no established road network. A pioneer road network strongly reflects the current regulatory environment, current harvesting systems, and regional factors. A plantation road network occurs where there is a land use change, often from agriculture to forestry, and often growing non-native species. Plantation road networks evolve from existing rudimentary roads to road networks planned specifically for a well-defined forest resource. The plantation road network does reflect the existing regulations and harvesting systems; however, it does exist in a more constrained system that is defined by the existing roads and the boundaries of the planted forest. Mature forest road networks have evolved over centuries and incorporate historic and current land use, evolving regulations and technology, and are often interconnected with public roads. Responses specific to these road classes include a pioneer road network using brush mats to help support the subgrade, a plantation road network applying an optimized design, and a mature road network using pavement as the road surface.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"34 1","pages":"190 - 203"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45529356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A review on cable yarding operation performance and its assessment","authors":"Stephan Böhm, C. Kanzian","doi":"10.1080/14942119.2022.2153505","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2022.2153505","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Cable yarding is a well-established practice for wood extraction in mountainous regions in most parts of the world where fully mechanized harvesting systems like harvester-forwarder combinations cannot operate due to steep terrain. Work- and time-studies are most relevant to create productivity models for cost estimation, simulation, system development or simply to compare different harvesting systems. The present work investigates 70 work studies on cable yarding operations, regarding assessment methods to establish a knowledge base on cable yarding performance models. A comprehensive literature research was performed to identify relevant studies. Information about the investigated extraction campaigns regarding site specifics, stock specifics, the utilized equipment alongside the work-study-methods, as well as the statistical approaches for model creation were collected. The data gained and the associated models were systematically analyzed to compare different yarding systems concerning their performance. A set of 98 models was selected for this purpose. Productivity of the investigated systems ranges from 1.5 m3/PSH to 69.3 m3/PSH with a mean value of 9.8 m3/PSH where PSH represents the productive system hour. A meta-analysis was performed with the data that is presented in the literature found to test several hypotheses concerning the influence of different parameters on the performance of yarding systems. Various relationships are so strong that regression analysis with the meta-dataset, that is mostly containing mean values presented, results in significant correlations. The diversity in problem formulation and the corresponding diversity in methodical approaches account for limitations in comparability of performance. The consultation of guiding literature on forest work studies can promote comparability between studies.","PeriodicalId":55998,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Forest Engineering","volume":"34 1","pages":"229 - 253"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48601359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}