Progress 01/02/01 to 01/02/06
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the term of this project, work focused on three primary decision areas: 1) simulation modeling of harvesting system operations, 2) optimization of forest products transportation; and 3) cost estimating tools. A key question in operations is identifying appropriate configurations of equipment to operate on given harvest sites. New operations research tools were developed using commercially-available software to model production processes in the woods. The research included modeling that considered spatial data as well as basic process flow modeling. Research also examined opportunities to improve transportation efficiency through better routing and dispatching systems. Finally, simple cost estimating tools are needed for tactical project planning. Spreadsheet-based models were developed to aid estimation of the costs of fuel reduction treatments, thinning, and forest products hauling. The research findings were communicated by presentation at conferences and through publications. The spreadsheet models were supported by "how-to" workshop presentations to user audiences at multiple venues. In addition, the models are posted on websites with links to user support. These outputs led to numerous individual technical consultations relating to forest products transportation and operations costing. The basic website for these tools is: www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The research work on harvest planning and system modeling advanced analytical methods in this discipline to include spatial information and current systems dynamic modeling techniques. STELLA is a basic dynamic system modeling tool that was applied to forest operations in this new work. The knowledge developed in the projects was shared with the larger research community and contributed to further developments in harvest planning. Forest products transportation is often more than half of the delivered cost of wood products to industry. Thus improving transport logistics can have a major effect on total cost. The research work found that, in general, a 10 percent improvement in loaded miles is possible although it requires sophisticated logistics planning. The knowledge developed through this work was shared at conferences contributing to general discussion and developments in harvesting planning and logistics. Recently forest industry has implemented practical testing of these concepts. At least one major contractor has implemented transportation scheduling and is realizing cost savings in the southern US. The spreadsheet cost estimating tools have had widespread distribution and use evidenced by requests for technical assistance. Users include municipal planners, contractors, agency personnel and other researchers. These tools have also been used to help contractors estimate hourly operating costs for bid rates. At least one contractor has used the transportation cost model to justify acquisition of a new form of biomass transportation.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Removing woody biomass from treatment sites in the western US is critical to achieve fuel reduction goals. However, many woods locations are not accessible to large grinding or chipping machines. In addition, many mountain roads are not designed for large chip vans. Because of these restrictions on access, a lot of forest biomass is currently piled for burning in the stand or left to decompose in roadside landing piles. The opportunities for burning are becoming more and more limited by air quality concerns, fire hazard restrictions. A cost-effective transportation system is needed to collect activity fuels and forward them to centralized processing facilities. Several companies have been using roll-on/roll-off containers for transport of woody biomass. The concept was tested in Canada in the mid-80's. Recent emphasis on fuel reduction has revived interest in the system. The basic idea is a two-stage hauling operation. Slash is initially loaded into containers at
remote forest operation locations. The bins are collected and hauled to a more accessible landing where the residues can be chipped and reloaded into highway hauling vehicles. In this project, a short field test of potential equipment was conducted to collect time and motion data. The field data was used to develop a cost-analysis model that can evaluate a two-stage hauling system across a wide range of hauling scenarios. The study showed that the bin system, with a payload of only about 9 tons per bin, must be employed with the shortest possible initial haul. Once the residues are chipped and reloaded, conventional highway hauling economies of scale are realized. However, the additional costs of bin transport and re-handling must be offset by some other factor. The most likely application of this technology would be for accessing residues near a wood-using facility that are inaccessible to conventional equipment. The demonstration project was reported in local newspapers and the
results are being condensed into a Forest Service report by the Missoula Technology Development Center. The project report describes the type of equipment that is used for two-stage hauling of forest residues. The cost analysis model will be used by project planners in estimating haul costs for forest treatments. Two-stage hauling provides another tool for forest managers to apply in difficult-to-access areas.
Impacts
The project report describes the type of equipment that is used for two-stage hauling of forest residues. The cost analysis model will be used by project planners in estimating haul costs for forest treatments. Two-stage hauling provides another tool for forest managers to apply in difficult-to-access areas.
Publications
- McDonagh, Kieran D.; Meller, Russell D.; Visser, Rien J.M.; McDonald, Timothy P. 2004. Harvesting system simulation using a systems dynamic model. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, May 2004. Volume 28(2): 91-99.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Resource management occurs at large spatial scales, requiring assignment of relatively expensive human and machine resources to job sites that are separated by great distances and separated in time. Work at one site may also be dependent on work at another being completed. Allocating resources to jobs in the wrong order leads to waste of effort and energy, missed deadlines, poor implementation of prescriptions because of a lack of time, and greater operating cost. Trying to effectively manage forest operations requires the acquisition, integration, manipulation and assessment of large amounts of information. The development of decision support tools for managers meets a critical need for effective management. A series of fundamental studies were conducted to evaluate alternative methods for acquiring tree size information during various stages of processing. Existing methods are available for some types of forest operations, but are not currently available for the
most widely used tree-length logging systems. Direct contact, optical sensing, and kerf mass sensing prototypes were designed and tested. The optical sensing approach, using an innovative arrangement to correct for varying vehicle speed, seems the most promising. However, practical issues of sensitivity to the harsh environmental conditions of forest work remain to be resolved. Two new harvesting simulation tools were also developed to help managers plan more effective operations. One model, Harvest System Assignment, compares the cost and efficiency of alternative systems applied to a given forest stand. The second model, Setting Analyst, uses spatial information to more accurately model the effects of terrain and operational layout on system performance and cost.
Impacts
Two new harvesting simulation tools were also developed to help managers plan more effective operations. One model, Harvest System Assignment, compares the cost and efficiency of alternative systems applied to a given forest stand. The second model, Setting Analyst, uses spatial information to more accurately model the effects of terrain and operational layout on system performance and cost.
Publications
- Halleux, O.R.M.; Greene, D.W. 2003. An operational harvest planning tool. Internation Journal of Forest Engineering. 14(1): 89-101.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Research efforts this year led to new methods for optimizing allocation of management resources, planning tools for harvesting and site impact mitigation, and continued refinement of automated systems for analyzing production efficiency of forest operations. Forest management happens at large spatial scales, requiring assignment of relatively expensive human and machine resources to job sites that are separated by great distances. Work at one site may also be dependent on work at another being completed. Allocating resources to jobs in the wrong order leads to waste of effort and energy, missed deadlines, poor implementation of prescriptions because of a lack of time, and greater operating cost. The development of decision support tools for managers meets a critical need for effective management.A planning tool was developed to optimally assign equipment to work orders. Plans developed minimized either the time to complete all work or total operating cost. The system
will be useful to companies that have to plan work for many crews doing multiple operations at locations that are separated by large distances. Other research resulted in the development of tools for harvest planning and BMP compliance. The harvest planning tools calculated total wood supply cost given alternatives in harvest system and site condition. The tools will be useful in matching harvest systems to a particular stand condition and should lower procurement costs. Another tool demonstrated how to use spatial modeling techniques to plan for BMP compliance. The GIS-based program calculated locations for sediment trapping structures based on surface topography and skid trail locations. Finally, work continued on the development of computer tools for automated production cost estimation for harvesting equipment. These tools allow continuous monitoring of harvest system activities, creating opportunities to track productivity over long periods of time at relatively low cost. This
will allow researchers to assign incremental harvesting costs to stand or site conditions that previously could not be measured because of the time and people resources required using standard techniques.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Halleux, Olivier R.M.; Greene, W. Dale. 2001. Setting analyst: a practical harvest planning technique. In: Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters 2000 national convention. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 360-366.
- Halleux, Olivier Robert Marc. 2001. Tactical harvest planning on private timber sales in the Southern U.S.A. Athens, GA: University of Georgia. 128 p. M.S. thesis.
- McDonagh, Kieran D.; Visser, Rien; Meller, Russell D.; Shaffer, Robert M.; McDonald, Timothy P. 2002. Systems dynamics simulation of harvesting systems. In: Forest engineering challenges: a global perspective: Proceedings of the 25th annual Council on Forest Engineering meeting; 2002 June 16-20; Auburn, AL. Corvallis, OR: Council on Forest Engineering: 5 p. [CDROM].
- McDonald, T. P.; Carter, E. A.; Taylor, S. E. 2002. Using the global positioning system to map disturbance patterns of forest harvesting machinery. Can. J. For. Res.. 32(2002): 310-319.
- McDonald, Tim; Carter, Emily; Rummer, Bob. 2002. Using harvest impact data to design effective BMPs. In: Forestry Best Management Practices Research Symposium; 2002 April 15-17; Atlanta, GA. [Abstract].
- McDonald, Tim; Rummer, Bob. 2002. Variation in skiddeer productivity over time during timber harvest. In: Forest engineering challenges: a global perspective: Proceedings of the 25th annual Council on Forest Engineering meeting; 2002 June 16-20; Auburn, AL. Corvallis, OR: Council on Forest Engineering: 5 p. [CDROM].
- Taylor, S. E.; Veal, M. W.; Grift, T. E.; McDonald, T. P.; Corley, F. W. 2002. Precision forestry: operational tactics for today and tomorrow. In: Forest engineering challenges: a global perspective: Proceedings of the 25th annual Council on Forest Engineering meeting; 2002 June 16-20; Auburn, AL. Corvallis, OR: Council on Forest Engineering: 6 p. [CDROM].
- Thompson, Jason D. 2002. Electronic service recorder for machine management. Tech. Rel. 02-R-4. Forest Operations Review. 4(1): 31-32.
- Valenzuela, Jorge; Balci, Hakan; McDonald, Tim. 2002. A simulation-based optimization model for planning forest operations. In: Forest engineering challenges: a global perspective: Proceedings of the 25th annual Council on Forest Engineering meeting; 2002 June 16-20; Auburn, AL. Corvallis, OR: Council on Forest Engineering: 5 p. [CDROM].
- Veal, M. W.; Taylor, S. E.; McDonald, T. P.; McLemore, D. K.; Dunn, M. R. 2001. Accuracy of tracking forest machines with GPS. Transactions of ASAE. 44(6): 1903-1911.
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