B. L. Lanford

Utilization and Cost of Log Production from Animal Logging Operations

Abstract Forest harvesting with animals is a labor-intensive operation. It is expensive to use machines on smaller woodlots, which require frequent moves if mechanically logged. So, small logging systems using animals may be more cost effective. In this study, work sampling was used for five animal logging operations in Alabama to measure productive and non-productive time elements to determine utilization with respect to operators, functions (felling and processing of trees, skidding, loading, and forwarding of logs), animals, and machines. Cost of log production was calculated from the figures reported by owners and the crew members. Average utilization of crew was 58 percent, animals (horses and mules) were utilized only 22 percent and the machines were utilized from 5 to 74 percent of scheduled time. Average cost of log production per m3 was

Soil Disturbances from Horse/Mule Logging Operations Coupled with Machines in the Southern United States

11.28. There appears to be an opportunity to reduce cost of log production by coordinating functions, increasing scheduled work hours, utilization of machines and animals, and reducing labor cost.

Operator variability in interactive simulations of feller-bunchers

Abstract Forest harvesting with animals is a labor-intensive operation. While mechanized logging is very efficient for large tracts of timber, it is often disruptive to the soil. Small logging operations using animals may be less environmentally disruptive. To better understand horse/mule logging performances for soil disturbance, five different horse/mule harvesting operations were investigated. About 75 percent of the soil was undisturbed and 22 percent of the remaining soil disturbance was judged to be slight. Only 3 percent of the soil examinations were classified as deeply disturbed and rutted – a condition considered to be prone to soil erosion. This study suggests that horse and mule logging has low soil disturbance in a partial cut of mixed pine/hardwood forests.

Evaluation of Timbco hydro-buncher in southern plantation thinning

ABSTRACT OPERATORS using interactive simulation to model a feller-buncher differed significantly in their utilization of the shear head. Even with such a difference, estimates of machine productivity differed only six percent between operators. Variability between operators does not appear to limit the utility of interactive simulation for examining operational and design parameters of logging equipment.

Safety and Health in Agricultural and Forest Engineering Curricula

ABSTRACT Aswing feller buncher was field evaluated for thinning loblolly pine on terrain from level to 58% slope. Production estimates were developed for the machine to operate up, down, and across slopes and on level ground. Also, the effect of piling to the front and to the rear was examined in all the models. The time required to fell and bunch a tree proved to be dependent on tree size and stand density. Production was also affected by the direction of travel and placement of the bunches.

The Albright Felling Saw in Saw Timber Stands

Unique aspects of agriculture and forestry dictate that safety and health should be an integral component of agricultural engineering and forest engineering curricula. Although safety and health topics should be covered in all design courses, this article reviews how these topics are covered in four specific agricultural and forest engineering courses at Auburn University. Of the four courses, the capstone design course experience appears to be the most appropriate opportunity to emphasize safety and health in agricultural and forest engineering programs. The important ingredients in this course are: allowing the students to use safety and health material learned in the classroom in an actual design project, and obtaining feedback on the safety of their designs from practicing engineers in industry. Students and industry cooperators have provided positive evaluations of the coverage of safety and health material in these courses.

Machine rates for selected forest harvesting machines

ABSTRACT THREE Albright Model 36 felling saws and three dif-ferent rubber-tired carriers were evaluated over a range of stand and terrain conditions in the southeastern United States. The Albright felling saw is a hydraulic-ally-driven saw chain attachment mounted on the front of a carrier for directional felling of saw timber. The ob-jective of the study was to determine the productivity rate of this type of felling saw. Average felling time was 1.124 min per tree. Average element times for a production cy-cle was 0.410 min for movetime between trees and 0.714 min for positioning and sawing a tree. Prediction equa-tions were developed for these elements.