Comparing Accuracy of Three Methods Based on the GIS Environment for Determining Winching Areas

Abstract

In forestry interventions such as thinning or selection cutting, appropriate road and skid trail networks are essential for efficient forest operations, but also for limiting damage to the residual stand and soil. Recently, multiple studies have shown the advantage of precision forestry and the use of a geographic information system (GIS) in forest road network planning, replacing time-consuming manual measurements and skid trail design directly in the forest. The objective of this research was to test the accuracy of three GIS-based methods, the correct distance method (CDM), real distance buffer method 12 (RDBM12) and real distance buffer method 10 (RDBM10), in estimating the area accessible for winching along skid trails. The study was carried out in two mountain areas, Fibbino and San Martino al Cimino (Italy). All the methods for determining the winching area were based on GIS and digital terrain model (DTM) maps. Additionally, control distances were measured manually in both areas and the results were compared with the distances measured using the GIS methods. The initial results showed that all the methods were useful for determining the winching area in mountain conditions. However, in conclusion, the CDM and RDBM10 methods were more accurate and can be recommended for further use and development.

How and How Much, Do Harvesting Activities Affect Forest Soil, Regeneration and Stands?

“…2. The proper design of forest roads can play an important role in reducing soil disturbance [18,[55][56][57][58][59], and it is important to reduce the trail slope gradient. 3.…”

Recent Contributions of Some Fields of the Electronics in Development of Forest Operations Technologies

“…Such problems are aggravated during poor economic conditions, as forest companies may not be able to access the quality of timber required to maintain profits [10]. In recent years, multiple studies have shown the advantage of precision forestry and the use of geographic information system (GIS) in forest road network analysis and planning [11]. This new approach allowed to further stress the forest road multifunctional aspects; in this direction, a recent paper highlighted like the combination of GIS-multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) [12] approaches can properly assist forest road planning for forestry and touristic purposes [13].…”

“…An example of the efficiency of GIS in forest operations planning is given in Figure 2, which is a real application by the authors of precision forest harvesting in a Central Italy turkey oak coppice forest yard, utilizing the methodology proposed by Picchio et al [11]. In the above-mentioned figure, it is possible to see the great difference in terms of skid trails number and length between a GISplanned ( Figure 2b) and a not-planned ( Figure 2a The subsequent step of GIS application in forest utilization is aimed to plan interventions considering both road network, environmental, and topographic conditions of the area.…”

“…The first attempt to use GIS in a more accurate analysis and planning of a forest road network on a relatively small area (ca. 20-60 ha), dimensions comparable to a single forest yard intervention, was carried out in Picchio et al [11]. In this study, three different GIS models, developed in previous studies, for the identification of forest winch accessible areas, were applied and field-validated in two different study areas in Central Italy.…”

Experimental Study Based on Game Theory on the Private, Voluntary Supply Mechanisms of Goods for Forestry Infrastructure from the Perspective of Quasi-Public Goods

“…Parsakhoo and Mostafa [13] have summarized the results of a road network analysis (RNA) and have evaluated the shortest path (to save travel time) in the city of Gorgan's public road network in Iran. Picchio et al [14] have tested accuracy in estimating areas accessible for winching along skid trails: they used three geographic information systems, namely the correct distance method (CDM), the real distance buffer method 12 (RDBM12), and the real distance buffer method 10 (RDBM10). However, research on forestry infrastructure supplies has not been sufficient.…”