Productivity and energy balance of forest plantation harvesting in Uganda

Balimunsi, Hussein Kivumbi; Grigolato, Stefano; Picchio, Rodolfo; Nyombi, Kenneth; Cavalli, Raffaele

doi:10.1007/s11632-012-0404-y

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The time and motion study was conducted using the repetition timing method to determine the total yarding cycle time, i.e., the amount of time required for the carriage to travel from the landing until the unhooking of the payload. These activities were investigated in terms of the cycle times by using stopwatches for each individual cycle, where we separated the productive time from the delay time, as well as identifying the variables that were most likely to affect the time consumption (Balimunsi et al, 2012). Six yarding elements were identified and timed to determine the total cycle time (Huyler and Ledoux, 1997): Outhaul empty: begins when the operator is ready to move the carriage from the landing out to choke setter and ends when the choke setter touches the choke.…”

Section: Study Site and Work Organisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time consumption and productivity of a medium size mobile tower yarder in downhill and uphill configurations: a case study in Czech Republic

Proto

Skoupy

Macrì

et al. 2016

J Agricult Engineer

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Cable cranes are among the most important means of yarding and transporting timber in many mountainous regions of Europe. In the last decade, all-terrain mobile tower cable cranes have been increasing due to their adaptability to operate both in uphill as well in downhill configuration. This research assesses the efficiency and the costs of a mobile cable crane manufactured in Czech Republic and designed for all-terrain application and specifically mounted on a wheeled agricultural tractor. A total of 100 cycle times were recorded in order to obtain evaluate the performance in the downhill as well uphill extraction configuration. The productivity analysis was based on regression equation as a function lateral distance, skyline slope distance and extracted volume. Increasing in number of lateral distance and extraction distance resulted as significant variables affecting the cycle time. Even if the test highlights a good efficiency of the extraction system for both the configuration (uphill vs downhill) there a still many organisational features that could be improved in order to fully exploit the potentiality of the tested cable crane system.

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Section: Study Site and Work Organisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time consumption and productivity of a medium size mobile tower yarder in downhill and uphill configurations: a case study in Czech Republic

Proto

Skoupy

Macrì

et al. 2016

J Agricult Engineer

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“…Therefore, one of the important issues in harvesting operations is the amount of wood which may be potentially lost due to the use of certain equipment or operational procedures. While the level of mechanization differs from region to region depending on forest types, wood species, management methods, terrain, and climatic conditions (Vusić et al 2013), the use of motor-manual tree felling is still very common in Europe (Brachetti Montorselli et al 2010;Gerasimov and Seliverstov 2010;Zinkevicius et al 2012;Borz and Ciobanu 2013) and around the world (Wang et al 2004;Behjou et al 2009;Mousavi et al 2011;Balimunsi et al 2012;Ghaffariyan et al 2013;Jourgholami et al 2013;Nikooy et al 2013). On the one hand, it is well known that by using a chainsaw in tree felling operations, a certain quantity of wood would be lost as a consequence of the cuts performed in order to fell the tree (Oprea and Sbera 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Gains in Wood Recovery Rate when Disobeying the Recommended Motor-Manual Tree Felling Procedures: Another Reason to Use the Proper Technical Prescriptions

Borz¹,

Ignea²,

Vasilescu³

2014

BioResources

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An efficient wood harvesting activity aims to fully recover wood as a measure to increase the profit, but safety prescriptions should be obeyed each time when harvesting operations are performed. A study was carried out in three forest compartments in order to determine whether the actual tree felling procedures match the recommended ones and, if not, to compare how the used practices may affect the wood recovery when felling trees using a conventional undercut. The study yielded significant statistical differences between the recommended and used cuts dimensions, as well as significant differences between the procedures used by three studied work teams. The general trend was to make deeper cuts and smaller openness when performing undercuts. Since one reason for such tree felling procedures may be the increment of wood recovery rate, we conducted a comparative analysis between the potential volume loss in the two mentioned scenarios, and only small differences were found; this should discourage the use of such tree felling techniques. The present estimates suggest that the potential volume loss was 0.89 to 1.20% of the harvested volume, yielding small gains in terms of wood recovery if compared to that of 1.74 to 3.17% corresponding to the recommended practices.

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“…At the same time, forest operations are cost driven activities, with their economic efficiency being directly affected by productive performance (Oprea & Borz 2007), a reason that triggered numerous studies aiming to evaluate the time consumption and productivity in tree felling and processing operations using chainsaws (Wang et al 2004, Ghaffariyan & Shobani 2007, Balimunsi et al 2012, Borz & Ciobanu 2013, Ghaffariyan et al 2013, Jourgholami et al 2013. Similar to most product systems, timber harvesting supposes energy inputs which are provided to a significant extent by fossil resources, contributing this way to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in the environment (Markewitz 2006, Vusić et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar to most product systems, timber harvesting supposes energy inputs which are provided to a significant extent by fossil resources, contributing this way to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in the environment (Markewitz 2006, Vusić et al 2013. On the one hand, harvesting systems such as those coupling motor-manual felling and skidding are still under-investigated in terms of fossil energy inputs even if some progress has been made for some operational layouts and equipment (Picchio et al 2009, Balimunsi et al 2012, Maesano et al 2013, Popovici 2013, Vusić et al 2013). On the other hand, the results of such studies represent the computation basis in other kind of research such as the life cycle assessment (Heinimann 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It covers both, the direct energy input representing the energy effectively used to sustain a process and the indirect energy input which stands for the energy stored in the materials used in the process (Vusić et al 2013). While the energetic balance proved to be a good indicator characterizing the environmental performance of forest operations being adopted by many studies (Picchio et al 2009, Magagnotti & Spinelli 2011, Balimunsi et al 2012, Ghaffariyan et al 2012, Vusić et al 2013, other impact types such as the soil disturbance or damage to residual trees may occur, involving sometimes economic losses (Dvořák & Iordache 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2016

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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.

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Productivity and energy balance of forest plantation harvesting in Uganda

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Time consumption and productivity of a medium size mobile tower yarder in downhill and uphill configurations: a case study in Czech Republic

Time consumption and productivity of a medium size mobile tower yarder in downhill and uphill configurations: a case study in Czech Republic

Small Gains in Wood Recovery Rate when Disobeying the Recommended Motor-Manual Tree Felling Procedures: Another Reason to Use the Proper Technical Prescriptions

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

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