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Despite the extensive use of cut-to-length mechanized systems, harvester data remains largely underutilized by most stakeholders in Germany. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine how business processes should be restructured to allow for a continuous use of forest machine data, with the main focus on harvester production data, along the German wood supply chain. We also wanted to identify possible benefits and challenges of the restructuring through a qualitative analysis of the newly designed business process. The Bavarian State Forest Enterprise was chosen for a case study approach. Based on expert interviews, the current and to-be processes were modeled. Results obtained from the qualitative data indicated that an integration of harvester data is achievable in Germany. Harvester data from forest operations can be provided to all subsequent activities along the supply chain. Core changes were the addition of a digital work order, the data exchange between harvester and forwarder, the pile order and the exchange of production data. Benefits for every stakeholder were determined. Through the reengineered process, harvesting and timber information are available and known at an earlier stage of the process, throughput information stations could be eliminated and working comfort could be improved. Ecological benefits could also be achieved through an anticipated reduction of CO2 emissions and protection of sensitive nature areas. Negative consequences of harvester data integration could appear in the social sphere and were in line with the reduction of personal contact. Challenges for the implementation in reality, besides the legal...

Despite the extensive use of cut-to-length mechanized systems, harvester data remains largely underutilized by most stakeholders in Germany. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine how business processes should be restructured to allow for a continuous use of forest machine data, with the main focus on harvester production data, along the German wood supply chain. We also wanted to identify possible benefits and challenges of the restructuring through a qualitative analysis of the newly designed business process. The Bavarian State Forest Enterprise was chosen for a case study approach. Based on expert interviews, the current and to-be processes were modeled. Results obtained from the qualitative data indicated that an integration of harvester data is achievable in Germany. Harvester data from forest operations can be provided to all subsequent activities along the supply chain. Core changes were the addition of a digital work order, the data exchange between harvester and forwarder, the pile order and the exchange of production data. Benefits for every stakeholder were determined. Through the reengineered process, harvesting and timber information are available and known at an earlier stage of the process, throughput information stations could be eliminated and working comfort could be improved. Ecological benefits could also be achieved through an anticipated reduction of CO2 emissions and protection of sensitive nature areas. Negative consequences of harvester data integration could appear in the social sphere and were in line with the reduction of personal contact. Challenges for the implementation in reality, besides the legal...

Within a basic research project, conventional European harvesting heads were modified with parts of Eucalyptus debarking heads, in order to add in-stand debarking to fully mechanized harvesting operations. The carried out modifications resulted in a debarking percentage of up to 90% for summer harvesting operations. During winter harvesting operations, the absence of the sap flow resulted in a 46% decreased debarking percentage. However, conventional head modifications acted beneficially on the nutrient supply, bark beetle infestation control and logistic challenges., Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes wurden konventionell genutzte Harvesterfällköpfe so modifiziert, dass während des Fäll- und Aufarbeitungsprozesses gleichzeitig entrindet werden kann. Innerhalb der Sommerversuche, resultierten die durchgeführten Modifikationen in einem Entrindungsprozent von bis zu 90%. Durch das Fehlen des Saftflusses im Stamm, reduzierte sich das Entrindungsergebnis für Wintereinsätze um 46%. Dennoch wirkte sich die Entrindung nachweislich positiv auf die Nährstoffversorgung, den Borkenkäferbefall und logistische Prozesse aus.

Cable yarding is a well establish technology for the extraction of timber in steep terrain. However, it is encumbered with relatively low productivity and high costs, and as such this technology needs to adapt and progress to remain viable. The development of biomass as a valuable byproduct, and the availability of processors to support yarder operations, lend themselves to increasing the level of whole-tree extraction. Double-hitch carriages have been developed to allow for full suspension of whole-tree and tree-length material. This study compared a standard single-hitch to a double-hitch carriage under controlled conditions, namely in the same location using the same yarder with downhill extraction. As expected, the double-hitch carriage took longer to load up (+14%), but was able to achieve similar productivity (10–11 m3 per productive machine hour) through increased inhaul speed (+15%). The importance of this study is that it demonstrates both the physical and economic feasibility of moving to whole-tree extraction using the double-hitch type carriage for longer corridors, for settings with limited deflection, or areas with lower tolerance for soil disturbance.

Cable yarding is a well establish technology for the extraction of timber in steep terrain. However, it is encumbered with relatively low productivity and high costs, and as such this technology needs to adapt and progress to remain viable. The development of biomass as a valuable byproduct, and the availability of processors to support yarder operations, lend themselves to increasing the level of whole-tree extraction. Double-hitch carriages have been developed to allow for full suspension of whole-tree and tree-length material. This study compared a standard single-hitch to a double-hitch carriage under controlled conditions, namely in the same location using the same yarder with downhill extraction. As expected, the double-hitch carriage took longer to load up (+14%), but was able to achieve similar productivity (10–11 m3 per productive machine hour) through increased inhaul speed (+15%). The importance of this study is that it demonstrates both the physical and economic feasibility of moving to whole-tree extraction using the double-hitch type carriage for longer corridors, for settings with limited deflection, or areas with lower tolerance for soil disturbance.

Within a basic research project, conventional European harvesting heads were modified with parts of Eucalyptus debarking heads, in order to add in-stand debarking to fully mechanized harvesting operations. The carried out modifications resulted in a debarking percentage of up to 90% for summer harvesting operations. During winter harvesting operations, the absence of the sap flow resulted in a 46% decreased debarking percentage. However, conventional head modifications acted beneficially on the nutrient supply, bark beetle infestation control and logistic challenges., Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes wurden konventionell genutzte Harvesterfällköpfe so modifiziert, dass während des Fäll- und Aufarbeitungsprozesses gleichzeitig entrindet werden kann. Innerhalb der Sommerversuche, resultierten die durchgeführten Modifikationen in einem Entrindungsprozent von bis zu 90%. Durch das Fehlen des Saftflusses im Stamm, reduzierte sich das Entrindungsergebnis für Wintereinsätze um 46%. Dennoch wirkte sich die Entrindung nachweislich positiv auf die Nährstoffversorgung, den Borkenkäferbefall und logistische Prozesse aus.

Structure and function of trees, tree groups and stands are heavily interwoven. The spatially explicit structure of standing trees, especially regarding the inner crown is hard to measure in a non-destructive manner. Therefore, this dissertation is based on the development of novel methodologies for the processing of terrestrial laser scanner data as well as the TLS-based measurement of structures of different tree species on different detail levels and under varying environmental conditions., Struktur und Funktion von Bäumen, Baumgruppen und Beständen sind eng miteinander verbunden. Die räumliche Struktur von stehenden Bäumen, insbesondere im Kronenraum ist nur schwer zerstörungsfrei zu quantifizieren. Diese Dissertation befasst sich daher mit der Entwicklung neuartiger Auswertungsverfahren terrestrischer Laserscannerdaten sowie der TLS-basierten Messung von Strukturen verschiedener Baumarten auf unterschiedlichen Detailebenen und unter unterschiedlichen Umweltbedingungen.

Structure and function of trees, tree groups and stands are heavily interwoven. The spatially explicit structure of standing trees, especially regarding the inner crown is hard to measure in a non-destructive manner. Therefore, this dissertation is based on the development of novel methodologies for the processing of terrestrial laser scanner data as well as the TLS-based measurement of structures of different tree species on different detail levels and under varying environmental conditions., Struktur und Funktion von Bäumen, Baumgruppen und Beständen sind eng miteinander verbunden. Die räumliche Struktur von stehenden Bäumen, insbesondere im Kronenraum ist nur schwer zerstörungsfrei zu quantifizieren. Diese Dissertation befasst sich daher mit der Entwicklung neuartiger Auswertungsverfahren terrestrischer Laserscannerdaten sowie der TLS-basierten Messung von Strukturen verschiedener Baumarten auf unterschiedlichen Detailebenen und unter unterschiedlichen Umweltbedingungen.