Forest Operations Productivity Initiative
“Using good data to support your forest operations”
Stellenbosch University in conjunction with the South African Forest industry has developed a robust and internationally aligned Time Study Standard and Data Repository Protocol for use by forest managers, practitioners/contractors and researchers. As part of ongoing support for forest operations The Forest Operations Productivity Initiative includes several machine and systems costing models which will also soon include silvicultural operations as part of the overall forest productivity package. The objectives of these efforts are to improve, if not optimise, silviculture and timber harvesting operations in the face of ever increasing international competition and to provide planning tools to not only the South African Forest Industry but to international partners as well.
News
Skills development of mechanised softwood sawtimber cut-to-length harvester operators on the Highveld of South Africa
In this study, a South African pine saw-timber mechanised cut-to-length harvesting operation was analysed with the main objective of describing and modelling productivity development learning curves of beginner operators in both clear-felling and thinning operations....
Diesel consumption and the carbon balance in South African pine clear-felling CTL operations: a preliminary case study
This study aims to determine the carbon balance of South African plantations by assessing the emissions associated with mechanised CTL harvesting and comparing these to the carbon stored in the logs harvested. The objectives are as follows: Estimate diesel and...
Cost-productivity analysis of South African pine sawtimber mechanised cut-to-length harvesting
A time study of a mechanised cut-to-length system was conducted in Pinus elliottii sawtimber plantations in the Southern Cape forestry region of South Africa. A harvester and a forwarder were studied with the objectives of finding average productivity across the work...
Effect of slope on productivity and cost of Eucalyptus pulpwood harvesting using purpose-built and excavator-based machines
This study sets out to see if the slope can affect mechanized cut-to-length harvester operations’ productivity and harvesting cost. To test this assumption, two different harvesters were applied to the study: an excavator-based machine (EBM) (Volvo EC210BF) and a...
Operation review of brushcutter nylon wear for two different nylon diameters from two different manufacturers
The study was commissioned to test the durability, productivity and fuel consumption of different nylons used on brush cutters. Two nylons were identified, paired (by diameter) and tested in one trial (per nylon diameter) fitted randomly to two brush cutters. The...
Project Collaborators
Industry Associates
