VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Shaffer, Robert M. Jr."

Browsing by Author "Shaffer, Robert M. Jr."

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An analysis of timber trespass and theft issues in the Southern Appalachian region
Baker, Shawn A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-05-01)
Timber theft is a crime within the forest industry which has not received a large amount of attention within research literature. As a result, there are no recent estimates available of the extent of the problem. The southern Appalachian region has conditions which seem to be conducive to timber theft, but convictions for timber theft in the area are infrequent. In order to address these issues, a study was undertaken in a 20 county region of the southern Appalachians to interview law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys about their knowledge of timber theft and their current level of investigation and prosecution. To ascertain the extent of timber theft, interviews were also carried out with both industrial and non-industrial landowners. The survey results indicate that both prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement officers are generally knowledgeable regarding timber theft and trespass. Results were similar between those individuals who had experience with the crime as well as those who did not. The overriding perception from both prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement officers was that timber theft should be handled as a civil violation. This perception was primarily a result of the frequent lack of properly located boundary lines to prove ownership of the property, and the difficulty of proving criminal intent. The study found 22 convictions for timber theft out of 36 criminal cases in the past three years. Due to a low response rate (16%) from non-industrial private forest landowners, estimates of the extent of timber theft were determined from the industrial landowner data and the law enforcement and attorney surveys. Based on these data, the impact of timber theft was conservatively estimated at 120 incidents per year, resulting in a loss of approximately $300,000 per year within the study area. An extrapolation of this to the entire southern Appalachian region would mean over $4 million per year. The results of this research indicates that there are potential areas for improvement in the conviction of timber theft offenders as well as in reducing the total number of theft incidents. The current statutes used to deal with timber theft are generally inadequate to provide prosecutors with the potential to convict most timber thieves because of the unique evidentiary requirements of a timber theft. As a result, changes in the statute would likely provide the greatest remedy. Civil statutes are also inadequate in many states to provide landowners the opportunity to obtain a suitable civil judgment. Information needs to be disseminated to landowners, law enforcement officers, and prosecuting attorneys about the aspects of timber theft which are most pertinent to them, and how the problem should be dealt with both before and after the theft.
Assessing the Cost and Operational Feasibility of "Green" Hardwood Winter Inventory for Southeastern Pulp Mills
Gallagher, Thomas V. (Virginia Tech, 2003-05-23)
Procuring hardwood pulpwood during the winter months for a pulp mill in the Southeast can be difficult. Saturated soils and low soil strength make logging difficult or impossible on many sites, forcing companies to store large volumes of hardwood pulpwood in woodyards for retrieval during wet weather. Hardwood fiber readily available in large volumes on ground that is operable during wet periods at a location near the pulp mill could provide a valuable alternative wood source. Thus, the objectives of this study are to 1) develop a decision model for a manager to use to determine the feasibility of strategically located, intensively-managed, short-rotation hardwood fiber farms as pulp mill furnish, 2) use the model to estimate wood costs for a hypothetical eastern cottonwood plantation, and 3) use the model to determine if a fiber farm grown on drier, upland sites ("green" inventory) could be used to reduce woodyard winter inventories and economically supply a nearby pulp mill during a wood shortage, thus reducing high cost, emergency "spot market" wood purchases. The decision model is incorporated in a spreadsheet and includes all the costs typical for a fiber farm. The model is tested using current establishment and management costs from the literature and yields from an experimental fiber farm in the southeast. Under current yields, delivered costs from the fiber farm averages $71/ton. With potential increased yields that could occur with genetic improvements and operational optimizations, delivered cost for fiber farm wood could be reduced to $56/ton. In comparison, the highest cost wood purchased by the three cooperating pulp mills during the study period was $50.23/ton. The net present values of a fiber farm as "green" inventory were determined using actual wood cost and inventory levels from three cooperating southeastern pulp mills. For the "green" inventory analysis, all three pulp mills would have lowered their overall wood cost using a fiber farm (with higher yield) as "green" inventory, primarily by reducing the amount of wood required as dry inventory on woodyards. Savings accrued during "dry" years offset the higher cost of hardwood plantation deliveries. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the optimal size fiber farm for one of the cooperating pulp mills and indicated that 800 acres would be the most beneficial.
Case Studies in Value Improvement in Hardwood Timber Harvesting Operations in the southern Appalachians
Haynes, Hylton John Gordon (Virginia Tech, 2002-08-23)
Three independent case studies focused on harvesting operation value improvement: (1) A productivity study was carried out on a new cable logging operation near Pikeville, Kentucky to document the effect of professional training on production efficiency. The crew received one full week of professional training. Prior to the professional training the productivity of the operation was established at 834 cubic feet per productive machine hour at an average piece size of 54 cubic feet. Two weeks after the training a productivity increase of 218 cubic feet per productive machine hour was established. (2) A USDA Forest Service stewardship contracting pilot project took place at Burns' Creek, Virginia. Productivity and machine costs for the cable-logging 'swing landing' operation were determined. Stream habitat improvement was achieved through the placement of limestone in the headwaters. The yarder placed 6.21 tons of lime per productive machine hour into the creek at a cost of $53 per ton. Instead of a traditional stumpage sale, timber was merchandized by the Forest Service and stored on the landing for a roadside log sale. Benefits and opportunities for a roadside log sale were identified. Consensus from the consumers at the log-sale was that the potential value of the timber was realized. (3) The third case study involved the analysis of the value recovered through log-making techniques (bucking) for five logging crews working in Virginia and West Virginia. An average value loss of 22 percent was calculated using the HW-BUCK bucking optimizer software package. [Vita removed March 2011. GMc]
A Computer Simulation Model for Predicting the Impacts of Log Truck Turn-Time on Timber Harvesting System Productivity
Barrett, Scott M. (Virginia Tech, 2001-01-18)
A computer simulation model was developed to represent a logging contractor's harvesting and trucking system of wood delivery from the contractor's in-woods landing to the receiving mill. The Log Trucking System Simulation model (LTSS) focuses on the impacts to logging contractors as changes in truck turn times cause an imbalance between harvesting and trucking systems. The model was designed to serve as a practical tool that can illustrate the magnitude of cost and productivity changes as the delivery capacity of the contractor's trucking system changes. The model was used to perform incremental analyses using an example contractor's costs and production rates to illustrate the nature of impacts associated with changes in the contractor's trucking system. These analyses indicated that the primary impact of increased turn times occurs when increased delivery time decreases the number of loads per day the contractor's trucking system can deliver. When increased delivery times cause the trucking system to limit harvesting production, total costs per delivered ton increase. In cases where trucking significantly limits system production, total costs per delivered ton would decrease if additional trucks were added. The model allows the user to simulate a harvest with up to eight products trucked to different receiving mills. The LTSS model can be utilized without extensive data input requirements and serves as a user friendly tool for predicting cost and productivity changes in a logging contractor's harvesting and trucking system based on changes in truck delivery times.
Development of An Effective Marketing Communications Network for the Successful Transfer of Technology An Empirical Study Based on the Diffusion of Portable Timber Bridge Technology
Shiau, Ren-Jye (Virginia Tech, 1999-06-18)
The ability to use scientific or engineering advances (new technologies) to meet market needs has become a primary business success factor. New technology is also a major factor influencing growth and productivity within a firm. However, the forces that lead to technological innovation are not always from inside the firm. Often a company receives technology (technology push) from outside sources. However, the transfer process is not always smooth. Public sector research represents an important source of technology. In the major Western industrialized countries, government and university research organizations account for over 40 percent of the national research and development (R&D) expenditures. However, many technology transfer efforts between public (federal government) and private sectors have been disappointing. Like all businesses, government organizations buy, sell, provide, and deliver ideas, services, and goods. Government organizations today face limited funding and personnel, but they must grapple with growing needs for their services. Public organizations often find it necessary to seek help from other organizations and individuals to achieve their objectives. In the case of diffusion of government-sponsored innovations, it is challenging to find parties who can facilitate them, and once the parties are identified, elicit the necessary assistance from them. Numerous research efforts have been conducted on technology transfer efforts between government-sponsored innovation and private sectors. However, when researchers attempt to gain an understanding of the efforts, they primarily look for end results and tend to neglect the information flow and communication process which lead to positive results. The Wood in Transportation Program (WIT), USDA Forest Service, has exerted considerable effort in transferring timber bridge technology to private industry. However, much of this effort has focused upon permanent bridge structures for highway or pedestrian use. Little research has been conducted on how to facilitate technology transfer via an information flow system to the target users. Another potentially large market may exist for portable timber bridges for use in forestry and logging operations. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the information flow through the entire logging system and identify intermediaries who can help the WIT Program, USDA Forest Service facilitate technology transfer. This study utilized a unique backward trace method to gain an understanding of how innovations are diffused. The research consisted of the following steps to attain the final goal of developing strategies to successfully diffuse portable timber bridge technology from public research sectors to private sectors. First, the research evaluated how the final users (loggers) receive information, why they prefer certain channel(s) over others, and how they make decisions to use or not use technology from developers (WIT). Second, intermediaries in the technology transfer process were identified by loggers and they were evaluated on how they receive information from technology developers; how they evaluate the information; how they currently promote and diffuse ideas or innovations. Finally, technology developers were evaluated on how they currently promote and diffuse ideas or innovations. Upon analysis of the network of information flow, a strategic marketing plan for successful transfer of portable timber bridge technology was developed.
Economic Comparisons Between an Even-Aged and an Uneven-Aged Loblolly Pine Silvicultural System
Cafferata, Michael J.S. (Virginia Tech, 1997-05-28)
This study compares financially optimal uneven-aged and even-aged silvicultural regimes of loblolly pine (Pinus Taeda). Uneven-aged regimes which maximize net present value (NPV) are found by quantifying the effects of diameter distribution (Q factor), maximum diameter, cutting cycle, and residual basal area on NPV. For the benchmark inputs, the regime yielding the highest NPV had a maximum diameter of 12 inches, residual basal area of 45 ft²/acre, and a cutting cycle of 11 years. Financially optimal even-aged regimes are taken from published literature of even-aged silviculture. Even-aged and uneven-aged silvicultural regimes are simulated starting from, 1) bare land, 2) a balanced uneven-aged loblolly pine stand, and 3) a mature even-aged loblolly pine stand. For the three starting conditions and selected benchmark variable values, simulation of even-aged silviculture yields NPVs of $877, $2,152 and $3,400 per acre and simulation of uneven-aged silviculture yields NPVs of $644, $2,084, and $2,569 per acre. Sensitivity analysis shows, for the levels of the variables tested, that even-aged silviculture yields higher NPVs than uneven-aged silviculture when starting from bare land or from a mature even-aged stand. When starting from an uneven-aged stand, for the variable values tested, uneven and even-aged silviculture are financially very competitive. Aside from the aesthetic benefits of avoiding clearcutting under uneven-aged silviculture, non-timber considerations between loblolly pine silvicultural systems are not well documented. Resource professionals hold opinions often in direct conflict with each other regarding the non-timber costs and benefits of even-aged and uneven-aged silviculture when considering wildlife, soil and water, and catastrophic damage events.
Economic factors influencing industrial landowner assistance programs on private forest land in the south
Crowther, Kevin D. (Virginia Tech, 1990-06-05)
The survey of medium-to-large forest industry firms across the South found 11,215 landowners enrolled in formal industrial landowner assistance programs in 1989. LAPs appeal to landowners with relatively large holdings who normally have financial returns as a part of their objectives. The forest industry has encouraged this group of owners to participate because of the efficiency in managing large tracts. The average LAP tract size of 428 acres is much larger than the average southern NIPF holding of 47 acres by a factor of ten (Birch et al. 1982). The forest industry enrolled 4,798,274 acres in their LAPs in 1989. Most firms indicated that they planned to increase the size of their LAPs by a total of 1,094,000 acres (23%) over the next five years. The popularity of LAPs in the forest industry appears to be based primarily upon their reliability and cost in comparison to other timber supply strategies (i.e., fee land, leased land, and the open market). Over half (53%) of the firms reported that they had successfully purchased at least 90 percent of the desired timber put up for sale in their LAPs. In case studies of three company programs, a capital budgeting analysis showed that the LAP was the least costly alternative for one firm and that the open market was the least costly timber supply strategy, followed closely by LAPs, for two firms. The LAP was the least costly strategy for Company C primarily because the probability of procuring timber in the LAP (0.95) was much greater than the probability of procurement on the open market (0.30). Since more than half of the surveyed firms were successful in purchasing a substantial part (90%) of the desired timber offered for sale in their LAPs, these results suggest that firms which operate in areas of heavy competition for timber, with correspondingly low probabilities of procurement success on the open market, may find LAPs to be their least expensive timber supply strategy.
The Effects of Stream Crossings and Associated Road Approaches on Water Quality in the Virginia Piedmont
Carroll, Matthew Bradley (Virginia Tech, 2008-05-22)
Stream crossings are an integral component of forest road systems that provide access for timber harvesting and silvicultural activities. Stream crossings and their associated approaches are often the most critical point of concern for water quality along forest roads. Several types of crossings are used for extracting timber, but limited studies actually compare different types of stream crossings with regard to their effect on water quality. The objectives of this study were to examine four different stream crossing structures: 1) steel bridges, 2) pole bridges (pipe with poles), 3) standard culverts, and 4) re-enforced fords (with GeoWeb or Geotextile) to determine the influence of stream crossing type on water quality and to evaluate erosion associated with stream crossing approaches. We also evaluated each site at four different time intervals to determine if water quality was more affected during different stages of the operations. Prior to operational timber harvests, we identified six replications for each type of crossings (4 fords) and collected data at four time intervals: 1) prior to reopening or installation of crossing, 2) after crossing installation, 3) during harvest operation, and 4) after road closure. Potential erosion rates from approaches to the crossings were estimated by collecting the road/site information necessary to estimate erosion with the Water Erosion Prediction Project for forest roads (WEPP) and the forest version of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). In-stream water samples were collected at fixed locations above and below each crossing and were evaluated for total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, conductivity, water temperature, and total suspended solids (TSS) or sediment concentration. Steel bridge crossings generally caused the least amount of water quality disturbance. Model-generated estimates of erosion demonstrated that culvert crossings were associated with the highest average soil loss potential. Although steel bridge crossings had the best overall results, pole bridges proved to be a viable option for ephemeral or intermittent streams due to low potential of soil loss. Ford crossings were found to impact water quality indicators, but showed a decrease in total dissolved solids (TDS) after installation, prior to harvest. Overall, the steel skidder bridges were generally the best crossing type, but any of the crossings can be used effectively with minimal impact under specific site conditions and with judicious installation, use, and closure. Road/skid trail location and adherence to existing road grade, water control, cover, and closure best management practices are critical for protection of water quality at stream crossings.
An Evaluation of the Organizational and Interpersonal Communication Strategies Used by a Major Forest Products Firm in East Tennessee
Plyler, Jennifer Lee (Virginia Tech, 1997-04-24)
Fifty-four community leaders from Anderson, Campbell, Cocke, and Scott Counties, Tennessee, participated in two in-depth interviews and a mail questionnaire over a 17-month period aimed at assessing the communication efforts of Champion International Corporation's East Tennessee Expansion Project. The East Tennessee Expansion Project was centered around CIC's purchasing 85,000 acres of forestland and building a chipmill in east Tennessee. The coorientational variables of accuracy and agreement were measured, and the channels most likely to increase scores on these variables were identified. The results indicated that CIC failed to accurately measure the coorientational variables prior to the East Tennessee Expansion Project to determine if the campaign was necessary. In fact, the land purchase and chipmill may have been non-issues. Instead, it appeared that the East Tennessee Expansion Project should have focused communication efforts on the Canton, North Carolina, papermill and Pigeon River issues. The channel type most likely to increase accuracy for community leaders was a combination of interpersonal and mass media channels, while agreement was more likely to occur with an interpersonal channel. While a general level of accuracy and agreement was achieved, a more precise measure of these coorientational variables indicated that agreement and accuracy were generally low.
Function, Design, and Establishment of Riparian Forest Buffers: A Review
Klapproth, Julia Caldwell (Virginia Tech, 1999-02-08)
Through the interaction of their soils, hydrology, and biotic communities, riparian forests protect and improve water quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, support aquatic communities, and provide many benefits to humans. Virginia, along with other states in the Chesapeake Bay region, has recognized the importance of riparian forests by implementing a plan to restore forested buffers along streams, rivers, and lakes. This project reviews selected literature on riparian forest buffers, including water quality functions, benefits to fish and wildlife, and human benefits. The review also discusses riparian buffer restoration and some of the costs and barriers associated with riparian forest buffer establishment. Information on financial and technical assistance programs available to Virginia landowners is included.
Harvesting Cost and Productivity Analysis of Independent Contractors in the Appalachian Region: 1995-1997
Altizer, Clayton Bruce (Virginia Tech, 1999-03-26)
The study examined contractor demographics, business and technological characteristics, costs, and production information for 15 independent logging firms in the Appalachians. Contractors represented nine states and were studied from 1995 to 1997. Each contractor's cost and production information was used to determine his economic efficiency for the study period. Total annual production for the firms ranged from 2,728.26 tons to 213,194.74 during the three-year period. Four contractors' median weekly production decreased from 1996 to 1997, while three contractors increased their weekly median production. Labor was the largest cost category for the smaller production contractors and contracted services tended to be the largest category for the larger producers. Regression analyses found that the cost of producing an additional ton increased from 1995 to 1996 and decreased from 1996 to 1997. Total cost per ton increased for four contractors from 1995 to 1996, while four showed decreasing cost per ton. For 1996 to 1997, five contractors had a cost per ton increase and seven showed a cost per ton decrease. Some of these shifts can be attributed to the fact that several of the mechanized contractors in the Central-Appalachians were "start-up" contractors when the study began. West Virginia contractors had the highest workers' compensation premiums per ton and Georgia contractors had the lowest. Labor costs per ton were highest for North-Central Appalachian contractors and lowest for the Southern Appalachian contractors. Contractors who produced predominantly sawlogs tended to have higher efficiency rankings than those who produced primarily pulpwood.
The impact of group selection silviculture on timber harvesting cost in the southern Appalachians
Brummel, Kenneth R. (Virginia Tech, 1992-05-07)
National Forest timber management in the southern Appalachians is changing from traditional even-aged management and clearcutting to uneven-aged management and group selection silviculture. Group selection, with its small 1/2-to-2-acre patch cuts widely dispersed throughout a timber stand, has the potential to substantially increase timber harvesting costs over traditional clearcutting. This could exacerbate the below-cost timber sale issue. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of groups election silviculture on timber harvest productivity and cost in hardwood stands of the southern Appalachians. This was accomplished by collecting and analyzing field production and cost data from typical Appalachian loggers operating on group-selection timber sales. Three logging systems were chosen for the study: (1) cable yarder ,(skyline) system; (2) feller-buncher/cable skidder system; and (3) motor-manual chainsaw felling/cable skidding system. At least one full week of time-study production data was collected at each location. cost information was obtained from the cooperating loggers' records, as well as historic production and cost data from previous clearcut sales for comparison purposes. study results show that production was reduced and unit cost increased for all three logging systems when operating on group-selection timber sales as compared to clearcutting. unit cost per ton for the cable yarder system was $40.18, a 29 percent increase over their previous average clearcutting cost. The fellerbuncher/cable skidder system unit cost per ton was $14.79, a 19 percent increase over this system's average clearcutting cost. The chainsaw felling/cable skidder system cost of $16.15 per ton was 33 percent above their normal clearcutting cost. A large increase in delays and unproductive time as a result of specific group-selection timber sale characteristics appears to be the major cause of reduced logging productivity and increased costs.
Impacts of Land and Ownership Characteristics on the Stumpage Prices for Virginia's Nonindustrial Forests
Hensyl, Curtis Hamilton (Virginia Tech, 2005-03-17)
The character of Virginia's nonindustrial private forests is changing primarily for two reasons. First, many large, continuous forested tracts are being sub-divided, into with the resulting smaller tracts purchased for amenity values and recreation instead of as a timber investment (Hodge 1993). Second, the demographics of non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners are shifting away from an agricultural, rural focus to an urban oriented lifestyle and absentee ownership. These changes may mean less timber available for purchase by the forest industry. Timber that is sold will be on smaller parcels that is bound to have an impact on the procurement activities of forest industries. However, little research has been performed on the impacts of site and landowner characteristic on stumpage prices. The objective of this research project is to identify how the stumpage price of timber is altered by the characteristics associated with the changing forest: decreasing tract size, decreasing harvested volumes, landowner residence, and landowner harvesting preferences. In addition to the price of timber, the competitiveness of timber sales is analyzed to determine what impact the fragmented forest could have on the competitiveness of timber markets. To perform the study, site and landowner information was collected for 138 recent NIPF timber sales that occurred within central Virginia. This region is identified as a critical area for the study of forestry activities because of the growing urban and suburban residential populations and the large amount of forest industry activities taking place there. Results show that access to the site is the most important characteristic determining the selling price of timber. Sites that are easy for logging crews and vehicles to approach dramatically increase the price paid per ton. Tract size is less important in determining bid prices for timber either once the total volume harvested passes a minimum of 500 tons, or there is mature hardwood sawtimber on the site and the acreage is greater than 50 acres. Landowners preference for select cut harvests results in a lower price per ton being paid by the purchaser due to the increased logging costs associated with this type of harvesting.
Improving Helicopter Yarding with Onboard GPS
Horcher, Andy (Virginia Tech, 2008-04-03)
Despite its relatively high cost, helicopter yarding has become a common means of timber extraction where site sensitivity, access, or regulations limit the use of less costly alternatives. The high costs associated with helicopter yarding, as well as the desire to expand the application of this system to extract lower value timber, increases the need for innovation to improve the operations. The cost or benefit of a particular harvest prescription or innovative technique is commonly assessed with a time and motion study. Capturing time study data require additional personnel or an imposition on the operator to record additional information. Onboard GPS can reduce or eliminate the need for additional personnel and/or operator input providing a rapid means of assessing and improving helicopter operations. This research employed onboard GPS in helicopter yarding to assess the potential of developing time studies using GPS data. Three helicopter models were sampled on a total of nine sites. Three of the sites have both experienced and inexperienced pilot data. Hemispherical canopy images were sampled at three sites. This complement of data permitted the following analysis: assessment of differences between experienced and inexperienced pilots, assessment of canopy cover on hook time, and the development of production models. The results indicate onboard GPS and the automated processing methods are suitable for creating time study data. Specifically, in all three case studies quantitative results were obtained, analyzed and opportunities for improvement identified. The time penalty suffered from using inexperienced pilots created 64 to 94% additional turn time. Increasing canopy cover correlated with increased hook time at two sites for the zenith angle segment 0 – 15°. Regressions assessing production show distance, slope, and choker delivery to be significant. This research shows the combination of onboard GPS, the automation process, and commonly collected turn information presents a number of opportunities, enabling the assessment of a wide range of helicopter yarding conditions.
Influences of varying stand harvest methods on timber harvesting costs in southwestern Virginia hardwoods
Bell, Robert D. (Virginia Tech, 1989-05-15)
A method was developed for estimating costs of harvesting operations in the hardwood stands of the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia. The method was then tested on one logging operation to estimate the cost of harvesting a group selection tract as compared to a clearcut. Eight loggers were contacted and interviewed to obtain data on their costs of logging. The mean, median, and standard deviation of the responses were calculated to develop a profile. Mean crew size was three men, including the owner operator. Mechanized equipment consisted of a cable skidder from 75 to 120 hp. and a small to medium size loader. Average skidder age was 4.8 years. Loggers produced 144 cords per week, of which 54.6% was pulpwood and 42.4% sawtimber with 3% firewood. Products were hauled an average of 33 miles one way. Labor costs, including wages and all benefits averaged $411 per man per week. Total harvesting costs had a mean of $2252 per week. Mean hauling cost was $1289 per week. Annual production averaged 6778 cords. Cords per man hour was 0.99. Total cost per cord including hauling averaged $26. The information taken from the interviews was incorporated along with data from current literature into the Harvesting Analysis Technique (HAT), a main frame harvesting simulator, to model group selection harvests against clearcut harvests. A twenty-seven acre group selection cut was compared to a 160-acre clearcut. Clearcut area was based on the access estimated possible by the group selection skid road network. Results showed group selection harvested at a 21% slower rate than clearcutting. Harvest cost per cord was 25.8% greater. Variation in cost was caused mainly by the increased average skid distances present in the groups. Every 100 foot increase in skid distance resulted in a $0.68 increase in cost per cord for skidding in group selection harvests compared to a $0.33 increase for clearcutting.
Injuries on Mechanized Logging Operations in the Southeastern United States
Milburn, Jason S. Jr. (Virginia Tech, 1998-06-19)
A random sample of injuries to employees of mechanized logging operations in the piedmont and coastal plain regions of the Southeastern U.S. was taken from the 1996-1997 claims records of three cooperating Worker's Compensation Insurance carriers. For each claim, information was gathered about the accident. Additional information on equipment, labor, and operations was gathered for each firm reporting a sample claim. All data was recorded in a spreadsheet program for sorting and analysis. The deckhand was the crew member most frequently injured (34% of claims), followed by equipment operators (28%) and truck drivers (24%). The delimbing/topping job function resulted in 24% of injuries, followed by maintenance/repair of equipment (19%), operating equipment (15%), and mounting/dismounting equipment (9%). The injuries occurred on the log deck (41%), in the woods (29%), and at a shop (11%). Most injuries were "struck by" type (50%), but 21% were "falls". The mean claims cost was $10,920 and the median claims cost was $1,200. On fully mechanized operations, 24% of total injuries are still a result of chainsaw delimbing or felling. Equipment operator injuries occur during maintenance/repair (29%) and while mounting/dismounting the equipment (23%). One-third of injuries to truck drivers was the result of motor vehicle accidents. Conclusions: * A worker performing equipment maintenance or repair, or a worker felling or delimbing a tree not processed by a feller-buncher or delimbing device, has the greatest risk of injury on fully-mechanized operations. * Mechanization of the delimbing function will reduce but not eliminate the most costly injuries, where a worker on the ground is "struck-by" a tree, limb, or log. * Equipment maintenance or repair should be performed in the controlled environment of a shop, rather than in the field, in order to decrease injuries. * Operating a chainsaw is still a very dangerous logging job function, even on mechanized operations. All employees that use a chainsaw should undergo extensive training, and only trained employees should use a chainsaw.
Logging in the Streamside Management Zone: Effects of Harvesting System and Intensity on Visual Soil Disturbance
Hodges, Christine Lamb (Virginia Tech, 2006-09-19)
Streamside management zones (SMZs) are a common and effective mechanism used to protect and maintain water quality during timber harvesting operations. In the southeastern United States timber harvesting is typically allowed inside the SMZ, but there is little information regarding suitable types of harvesting systems and the acceptable amount of canopy cover. The effects of two harvesting systems and harvesting intensities on visual soil disturbance were evaluated throughout Virginia and eastern West Virginia. The harvesting systems were a chainsaw/cable-skidder system (manual) and a feller-buncher/grapple-skidder system (mechanized). A total of 118 unique SMZ plots were measured at 50 different harvest sites, split evenly between manual and mechanized operations. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) at the p < 0.10 significance level indicated that there was no significant difference in visual indices of soil disturbance levels between the two systems. However, the manual system had significantly more "rutted" disturbed area and slash cover than the mechanized system. Harvesting intensity was found to be a significant factor in the occurrence of total visual soil disturbance (slight, deep, rutted classes). Slope gradient was evaluated and revealed that slope percentages had no significant effect on percent soil disturbance for this study. Based on the parameters measured, the general occurrence and frequency of soil disturbance generally depends on the specific site conditions.
A microcomputer program to analyze wood supply and economic feasibility of wood processing facilities
Donnell, R. Douglas (Virginia Tech, 1988-02-05)
Two programs, HAPWED (Hardwoods And Potential Wood-using Enterprises Database) and FIST (Facility Investment Spreadsheet Template) were developed. HAPWED is designed to analyze the feasibility of investments in wood processing facilities with respect to the economic supply of timber. The program requires user supplied databases of timber inventory, mill requirements, and product requirements. The program utilizes CONDOR III database manager. FIST is a spreadsheet template written for SuperCalc IV. It calculates the net present value, internal rate of return, and the undiscounted payback period using estimates of annual cash flows supplied by the user. Timber inventory, mill, and product databases were developed for demonstration. Eight facilities were tested for economic feasibility using FIST, two had positive NPV's (a conventional sawmill and a laminated veneer lumber mill). Analyses conducted using HAPWED indicated sufficient volume in Southwest Virginia to supply both mills from three different supply points using 50-mile supply radii.
Opportunities for Standardization in Monitoring of Best Management Practices in the Southeastern United States
Yonce, Mary Elizabeth (Virginia Tech, 2005-01-24)
Silvicultural activities, particularly forest harvesting operations, have the potential to negatively impact water quality. In order to lessen the probability that water quality degradation will occur, a suite of best management practices has been developed and adopted by southeastern states. The Clean Water Act exempts silvicultural activities from the permitting process of Section 404 as long as federally accepted best management practices are implemented to control nonpoint source pollutants. To demonstrate that these practices are being implemented, states are now inspecting and reporting on best management practice usage on a state wide basis. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for executing the Clean Water Act and would like to use the information provided by the individual states to guide water quality protection programs at a regional scale since states have developed their own unique methods or reporting. Currently there it is difficult to compare the information provided by states, and this impedes further development of water quality protection programs. To address this issue, a state of the art review of current inspection and monitoring methods in the southeast was conducted. Forestry professionals were then surveyed to identify opportunities for standardization in the inspection and reporting methodologies employed by states. Using the information resulting from the review and survey, recommendations for standardization were made in the following areas: site selection criteria, field execution method, form design, best management practices evaluated and water quality threat assessment. A standardized form was also developed and tested across three physiographic regions. This information is helpful for future planning and modifications that state agencies can use to standardize their BMP implementation monitoring methods.
Opportunities to Increase Productivity of the Industrial Wood Supply System Through Improved Planning and Communication
Rodgers, Brian (Virginia Tech, 2002-04-18)
Planning is the act of determining the steps necessary for an organization to obtain goals in the future. Planning takes on even more importance as competition increases and additional efficiency is needed. In today's competitive business environment, any method that can be utilized to maintain an advantage over an organization's competitors must be investigated. Organizations allocate time and resources dedicated to planning differently. Differences are directly related to the goal that is being planned for and the amount of time before the goal is to be met. This study was undertaken to determine what levels of planning and communication were present in the wood supply industry and to determine how information that was being exchanged was being used in these processes. During 2001, Virginia Tech Forestry Operations researchers completed a study to assess the current state of planning and communication in the industrial wood supply process and to identify opportunities for improvement. Researchers performed interviews with 169 individuals representing all segments of the wood supply system. Interviews were performed during the summer of 2001 in the southeast and northeast regions of the United States. The overall findings of this study showed that current planning in the wood supply system is primarily "reactive" rather than proactive, resulting in extremely short planning horizons for all segments of the wood supply chain. This is due in some part to the high degree of uncertainty facing the forest and logging industries in today's business climate, but is also a result of a continuation of traditional business practices that promote inefficiencies in the wood supply chain. Frequent, short term changes in mill requirements, including delivery schedules, inventories, and specifications, drive many of the constraints to planning in the wood supply system. Thirty-five percent of the wood procurement organizations interviewed reported that the consumption mix at their mill often changed on a weekly basis, and 65% reported they typically receive only one or two week's notice in advance of significant changes in mill wood requirements. Advances in communication technology, such as cell phones, are facilitating frequent verbal communications between all segments of the wood supply chain. These communication improvements are also a factor in reducing the planning horizons for suppliers. As consumers adopt and use these communications technologies they are being used to actively manage daily (rather than weekly, monthly) wood flows as "just-in-time" inventory management goals. While 60% of the loggers interviewed reported they communicated at least twice a week or more with their wood dealer or procurement forester, 70% reported that these communications were only "somewhat" or "not helpful" in planning their production goals. More than 75% of the contract loggers interviewed know the location and characteristics of the next tract they will harvest less than one week before they move their equipment and begin harvesting operations. This common and wide-spread industry practice of delaying critical information to loggers with regard to tract allocation creates a barrier to effective operational harvest planning, and provides one of the greatest opportunities for substantial cost savings through improved planning and communications. Compensation rates for logging contractors are primarily determined (70%) through the application of consumer's logging cost models or dealer's "market" rates which facilitate little if any true negotiation for harvesting system cost items. These models are generally based on projected "average" production rates that do not reflect consumer-imposed constraints such as quota reductions, additional mandated moves, or tract allocation "mismatches". Efficient and predictable wood flow is critical to a stable and profitable forest and logging industry. Mill management and wood procurement personnel should plan their wood requirements, inventory and delivery schedules on an annual basis and effectively communicate these plans to the appropriate suppliers to facilitate their (suppliers') ability to conduct meaningful long-term strategic and tactical planning. Without adequate planning all participants of a system lose control and generate inefficiency. Proper planning reduces the likelihood that obstacles will dramatically affect the efficiency and corresponding productivity of these participants. The results are improved productivity and increased return on capital employed.

Browsing by Author "Shaffer, Robert M. Jr."

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