Impact of operational factors on fossil energy inputs in motor-manual tree felling and processing: results of two case studies

Abstract

Ignea Gh., Ghaffaryian M.R., Borz, S.A., 2017. Impact of operational factors on fossil energy inputs in motor-manual tree felling and processing: results of two case studies. Ann. For. Res. 60(1): 161-172.Abstract. In many cases tree felling and processing operations are carried out motor-manually and knowledge about fossil fuel consumption and direct energy inputs when using such equipment is required for different purposes starting with operational costing and ending with environmental assessment of forest operations. In this study, fuel mixture, chain oil and direct fossil energy inputs were evaluated for two chainsaws which were used to fell and process trees in two silvicultural systems. The results of this study suggest that there is a strong dependence relation between selected tree size variables such as the diameter at breast height and tree volume on one hand and the fuel mixture, chain oil and direct fossil energy inputs when felling and processing broadleaved hardwood and resinous softwood trees on the other hand. For the broadleaved trees (mean tree volume of 1.50 m 3 tree -1 , DBH of 45.5 cm and tree height of 21.84 m) the mean direct fossil energy input was of 3.86 MJ m -3 while for resinous trees (mean tree volume of 1.77 m 3 tree -1 , DBH of 39.28 cm and tree height of 32.49 m) it was of 3.93 MJ m -3 . Other variables, including but not limited to the technology used, work experience and procedural pattern, may influence the mentioned figures and extensive studies are required to clarify their effects.

Workload, Exposure to Noise, and Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Case Study of Motor-Manual Tree Feeling and Processing in Poplar Clear Cuts

“…Production (P, m 3 ) of motor-manual tree felling and processing was estimated based on the over-bark volume input in the operations, using the average tree volume (TV, m 3 ) extracted from the harvesting block utilization act, as shown in Table 1, and the number of felled trees during the observations. Total fuel mixture (FM, L) and chain lubrication oil (LO, L) consumptions were measured in the field using the general methods recommended in [38] and described by a similar study [48], with the difference that refueling took place at the free will of the feller. Unit fuel mixture (UFM, L·m −3 ) and chain lubrication oil (ULO, L·m −3 ) were computed at the office based on field recorded data and the estimated production.…”

Reengineering the Romanian Timber Supply Chain from a Process Management Perspective

“…The prevailing harvesting system combines motor-manual tree felling and processing with extraction done by winch skidders (e.g. Borz et al 2013, Borz et al 2014b, Borz et al 2015, Ignea et al 2017, Moskalik et al 2017. In this operational configuration, final wood assortments are usually bucked at the road side and then transported by trucks to intermediate storage facilities, to forest-based industry plants or to private households.…”

Resource Allocation, Pit Quality, and Early Survival of Seedlings Following Two Motor-Manual Pit-Drilling Options

“…Compared to other studies that accounted for the variability of processed unit size (e.g., [27]), this study assumed less variability in the fuel intake due to the relative homogeneity of drilled pits and moving distances. Therefore, it was assumed that the mean values of fuel consumption would carry enough information to characterize eventual differences between the two tested drill sizes.…”