Forest Engineering

A systematic literature review was settled to investigate the application of GIS in terms of methods, complexity and accuracy to support decision on forestry operations and forest road network planning. A comprehensive search for relevant studies was performed to retrieve as many relevant international scientific publications dealing with forestry operations and forest road network planning in the period 1996–2015. The analysis was based on the development of a systematic literature review comprising three steps:  implementation of the database searches by well-defined search terms  identification of all the publications meeting the requirements of the search terms by abstract  choice of the most relevant publications analysis of the contents. In this review, »GIS and forest operations« includes all the descriptors dealing with GIS applied to support forest operations decision and analysis, while »GIS and forest roads« includes all the papers dealing with the analysis, management and planning of forest road or forest road networks. A total of 372 references and 82 publications were selected for the analysis as they were clearly in conformity with the review topics (GIS applications in forest operations and road network planning). The analysis showed that GIS has also been applied successfully and unambiguously to harvesting and transportation engineering in forest operations management. Further to the prevailing use concerning applications to support tactical planning, a significant number of recent publications have turned successfully to GIS applied at operational level. Again, despite the prevailing use concerning applications to support tactical planning, a significant number of recent publications have also turned successfully to GIS applied at operational level with the topics of Forest Operations Management in terms of optimization, productivity and safety analysis. By considering the recent evolution and improvement of GIS technology and the increasing availability of spatial data, as well their improvement in quality and resolution, the application of GIS in forest harvesting and transportation engineering as well as in forest operations management will expand in the near future.

This study analysed the skyline tensile forces in 502 complete work cycles during ordinary cable logging operations on 12 different cable lines in the Italian Alps. The objectives of the research were to quantify the frequency of exceeding the recommended safe working limits and to determine the skyline peak tensile forces and dynamic amplifications, as well as their explanatory variables. Data collection was based on skyline tensile force monitoring synchronized with the video recording of the logging operations and the monitoring of the carriage positions. The load volumes were measured at the landing, and the total loads were estimated for each cycle. The results showed 55% of the work cycles exceeding the safe working load. The highest peak tensile forces were often recorded while starting the load moving during lateral skid. High-peak tensile forces were also recorded during inhaul, where the tensile forces were amplified by the cyclic load behaviour. It appears that some operators underestimate the effects of pretension, payload, and cable line geometry on the magnitude of the skyline tensile force. The complexity in identifying reliable theoretical models inclusive of dynamic amplifications and the inefficacy of the load limiters installed on the machines highlighted the need to improve the best practices within the operators, and to adopt technical solutions for the continuous skyline tensile force monitoring during ordinary cable logging operations.

The forestry sector is showing an increasing demand for documentation about its environmental performance. Concerning forest operations, many studies have revealed remarkable differences in environmental impact mainly due to differences in location, forestry practice and technologies. As a consequence, reliable information on environmental performance for forestry operations and wood supply chain is considered to be crucial.

This work aims to evaluate the environmental impacts of the firewood supply chain from high stand beech forest in North-Eastern Italy. Two scenarios have been considered: the first scenario investigates the firewood supply chain based on the wood harvested from the local forest, while the second one investigates the supply chain based on wood imported from the Balkans’ area.

The differences between the two scenarios are assessed through a “gate to grave” life cycle assessment for the impact categories: Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP); Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP) and Human Toxicity Potential (HTP). The functional unit is 1 MJ of energy produced by firewood.

The study has shown that there are different critical values of transportation distance for impact categories.

Although most of the chemicals emitted in the life cycle of firewood cannot be offset, a sustainable forest management can completely offset the fossil CO2 emissions of the short and the long supply chain by saving less than 10% of the net increment

Timber production is an important ecosystem service of European mountain forests. This paper aimed to assess the current practices in logging operations and to identify the efficiency gaps in timber production. The study was located in seven case study areas from representative European mountain ranges, where 632 logging operations were analysed. The focus was on road infrastructure, transport systems, harvesting methods and extraction technologies. Often inappropriate technology was used in steep terrain; there was no correlation between the average slope and the selection of harvesting systems. Skidding was the most common extraction method (75%), while cable yarding and forwarding had shares of 15% and 8%. The mean road density was 18.5 m ha-1. The mean extraction distance was 501 m. The mean harvesting and extraction productivity were 9.0 m³ h-1 and 10.2 m³ h-1; the mean costs were 11.1 € m-³ and 11.7 € m-³, respectively. Non-mechanized and obsolete harvesting systems reported the lowest efficiency and the highest environmental footprint, while fully mechanized systems reported the highest efficiency, the lowest number of accidents and the lowest stand damage. Cable yarders are the appropriate extraction technology in steep terrain, but they require a well-developed road network. Higher mechanization degree, improved quality of the road networks, knowledge transfer to practice and training of forest workers are some of the necessary measures to overcome the efficiency gaps in timber production in European mountain forests.

Different forest management regimes have different carbon footprints due to alternative operational strategies and options. Data concerning CO 2 emissions (kg m –3) in felling, extraction, comminution and transport operations, performed under two different forest management regime (close-to-nature and plantation), were collected through a systematic literature review involving 162 scientific papers and compiled into a database. Results show that, within limits, forest operations in plantations produce lower emissions due to easier operational conditions, while transportation in both close-to-nature and plantation based forest operations reported the highest levels of emissions. Literature came from a variety of sources and often differed in context due to factors such as technology, work technique, operator skill and environmental conditions. These factors have been shown to highly affect the results obtained from the studies. Nevertheless, it has been possible to summarize most of the information gathered and to highlight the most representative driving factors in CO 2 emissions throughout different forest management regimes.

Keywords: CO2 emissions, forest management regimes, forest operation, carbon footprint, wood harvesting, wood extraction, wood transport

É com enorme contentamento que apresentamos o e-book “Conceitos e Conhecimentos de Métodos e Técnicas de Pesquisa Científica em Engenharia Florestal”  que foi elaborado para a divulgação de resultados e avanços relacionados às Ciências Florestais. O e-book está disposto em 1 volume subdividido em 17 capítulos. Os capítulos estão organizados de acordo com a abordagem por assuntos relacionados nas diversas áreas da Engenharia Florestal. Em uma primeira parte, os capítulos estão de forma a atender a área de silvicultura voltada para as técnicas silviculturais para produção, tecnologias para produção de sementes e mudas, melhoramento florestal e proteção florestal.  Em uma segunda parte, os trabalhos estão estruturados de forma a abordar a área de ecologia e dinâmica florestal. Em uma terceira parte, os trabalhos estão voltados para a tecnologia de produtos florestais mais especificamente relacionados às  propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas da madeira. Em uma quarta parte, com um trabalho sobre gestão ambiental, abordando a importância dos recursos hídricos. E finalizando, a quinta parte com um trabalho sobre sensoriamento remoto. Desta forma, o e-book “Conceitos e Conhecimentos de Métodos e Técnicas de Pesquisa Científica em Engenharia Florestal” apresenta resultados relevantes realizados por diversos professores e acadêmicos que serão apresentados neste de forma didática. Agradecemos o empenho e dedicação de todos os autores das diferentes instituições de ensino, pesquisa e extensão, por partilharem ao público os resultados dos trabalhos desenvolvidos por seus grupos de pesquisa. Esperamos que os trabalhos aqui apresentados possam inspirar outros estudos voltados às Ciências Florestais.

Oliveira Carneiro., Effect of the addition of nanoclay (Na+ montmorillonite) on the urea formaldehyde adhesive in wood bonded joints of Eucalyptus sp. Aust. Background: Urea formaldehyde adhesive is the most used adhesive in the reconstituted wood panels sector, because it presents satisfactory performance and low cost. However, this adhesive has lower mechanical strength when compared to phenolic adhesives. As a result, additives have been sought to improve the characteristics of urea formaldehyde adhesives. The nanotechnology development, specifically nanoparticles, has contributed to the emergence of a new generation of high performance adhesives. Objective: Evaluate the effect of nanoclay addition (Na + montmorillonite) in proportions of 2, 4 and 6% on urea formaldehyde adhesive and its effect on the shear strength of the glue line in bonded joints of Eucalyptus sp. Results: The nanoclay addition altered properties of the urea formaldehyde adhesive. The increase in the percentage of nanoclay caused an increase of viscosity and pH values, contrary behavior was observed for the nonvolatile content and gel time. It was observed a 10% increase in shear strength in the glue line of the bonded joints when 2% of the nanoclay was added. However, the addition of 4 and 6% of nanoclay caused a reduction of approximately 5 and 21%, respectively, in the mechanical strength of the bonded joints. The adjusted quadratic model presented a high coefficient of determination, indicating that the model is adequate to estimate the shear strength in the glue line. Conclusion: The panels produced with nanoclay contents above 2%, presented a performance of increase of the viscosity, reduction of gelatinization time and reduction of mechanical resistance. These changes in adhesive properties, with the addition of montmorillonite above 2%, may compromise the wood panels quality.

ABSTRACT
The ethnobotanical data of along river Panjkora in Sheringal valley was documented during 2015. 31 species of 29 genera belonging to 17 families were found useful in every day life of local inhabitants as medicinal, fuel, shelter, fodder/forage and in making agriculture tools. Information collected from local peoples shows that most of the plants used for diuretic, anticancer, stomach diseases, chronic constipation, headache problems, anti respiratory diseases, anti cholestrolemic, anti hepatitis, inflammation of gall blader, against bacterial infection, skin diseases, gynecologic problems, agues treatment, cutaneous diseases, treatment of asthma, against heart diseases, anti viral and treatment of fever.  Most of the species were noticed having more than one ethnobotanical uses. Family Poaceae and Lamiaceae was recorded unique among all the families in having comparatively the highest number of species. i.e., 5

Timber harvesting in Tanzania uses semi-mechanized and labour – intensive logging systems. Manual or semi-mechanized logging operations by using hand tools are more favoured due to cheap labour availability. For example, tree cutting is done manually using two-man crosscut saws, axes or chainsaws. This study was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture Training Forest to assess the effect of training and job interruptions for chainsaw operators during tree cutting operations in softwood plantation forests in Tanzania. Tree cutting operations using experienced and inexperienced chainsaw operators were studied in three experiments; before training, after training and after the break. Time study and work sampling techniques were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and modeling was performed for each crews’ performance. Results show that generally, experienced crew spends lesser time in cutting as compared to inexperienced crews. However, start up chainsaw crew spent 32% higher time for preparation before tree felling. However, the crew showed significant improvement after training unlike the experienced one. The analysis of the delay times start up crew was had a significant proportion of the delay times during the first engagement which decreased substantially in the other two experiments. Generally, there was an improvement of the cutting time after training for all crew categories with decrease after the break. This observation signifies that job interruptions impact the productivity of the crews. Therefore, on job training on resumption of the operations may significantly improve crews’ productivity, safety as well as ensuring product quality.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differential global positioning system (DGPS) positional accuracy on Irish forest roads with typical peripheral canopies. The peripheral canopy obstruction at 20 forest road sites in Roundwood State Forest, was determined using a handheld clinometer and magnetic compass. This simple field technique permitted quantification of the canopy obstruction using graphical means and resulted in a graphical skyplot of each site. The equipment, one Trimble ProXRS DGPS unit and two Trimble 4000SSi units permitted determination of the DGPS accuracy (average of 2.9 m) and precision (average of 2.1 m) with a range of peripheral canopies. DGPS performance was quantified in terms of the average absolute error in positional dilution of precision (PDOP) (DPDOP = 1.6). The relationship between DPDOP and percentage of open sky was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.706, r = 0.001). Statistical analysis also indicated a strong relationship between relat...

We propose a method for the appropriate assessment of adverse effects of roads in compliance with the European Union Habitats Directive. The method incorporates an analysis of ecological risk of edge effects by the proposed roads with the related increase in accessibility. The method was tested on 30 km of planned forest roads inside an 8,000-ha reserve included in two Natura 2000 sites. As a result, the cumulative effect of 19 road segments was judged as not significantly affecting the integrity of the sites, although they made accessible an extra 314 ha. On the basis of the accessibility calculation, 20 ha of land were set aside from forest exploitation as a mandatory mitigation measure. The method objectively determined the cumulative adverse effects, enabled comparison of plan revisions and alternatives and proved to measure direct and indirect significant effects with a realistic effort in terms of field survey and geographic information system processing.

A cost effective technical solution of a forest double steering traile was studied and tested, allowing decrease of radius of curvature and increase of the maneuverability, independently from the length of the transported logs. The steering system improves the so called “stingertype truck” configuration using an articulated frame; through a rearward hinge, the front wheels direction mechanically controls and
adapts the direction of rear twin wheels. The study was based on CAD simulations considering the dimensions of the trailer transporting logs with a length up to 12 m. For different log lengths the simulation analyzed the total maneuver area, in terms of minimum curve radius and curve widening. A field test on a prototype operated for transport of long logs along a representative forest road in the Alps was carried
out. The results confirm the improvements foreseen by CAD simulations, with allowed curve radius down to 6 m, even with 12 m logs.

Za izdavača: Joso Vukelić.
Izdavački savjet: Slavko Matić, Šime Meštrović, Joso Vukelić, Boris Ljuljka, Mladen Stjepan Figurić, Ivica Grbac.
Glavni urednik: Slavko Matić.
Tehnički urednik: Igor Anić.
Recenzenti (ocjenjivači): Šime Meštrović, Mladen Stjepan Figurić.

The restoration of riparian areas degraded or cleared is of vital importance for the pre-servation of waterways, which are necessary to the maintenance of ecosystems and biodiversi-ty. After years of intense degradation, has been increasing awareness throughout socie-ty, including its economic agents, about the importance of these resources, and legal restric-tions. However, the recovery of riparian areas requires mathematical modeling and plan-ning for the phases of recovery can be monitored and investments can bring the expected re-sults to the shareholders of the project. This study, by applying mathematical tools, aims to suggest a methodology for the safe recovery of riparian forests.

The FAO and EU forest strategies advocate the use of forest resources in ways which minimize the impact on the environment and climate. However, in forests with poor accessibility, the environmental footprint of forest operations is significant due to the long timber extraction distances. Thus,
improving the environmental performance of forest operations requires a well-developed forest infrastructure, specifically the density and quality of roads. The aim of this paper was to assess the environmental footprint of forest roads in terms of embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions due to construction and maintenance. In this respect, life cycle assessment approach was used to develop an input-output model for benchmarking two case study areas, considering real machine utilization rates, fuel consumption and labor requirements. The forest road life cycle was set to 30 years.
Direct energy requirements derived from the fuel consumed by the machinery were considered. Construction and maintenance required energy inputs of 490.9 MJ m−1 and 580.4 MJ m−1, respectively about 36.6 kg CO2eq m−1 and 43.1 kg CO2eq m−1 emission rates in the two case study areas, while occupying productive land with forest roads triggered a loss of 3.95 kg CO2eq m−1 y−1 and 4.40 kg CO2eq m−1 y−1 during the life cycle of the forest road. However, the CO2eq loss due to road construction and maintenance is insignificant when compared to the CO2eq stored in the growing stock of the opened forest area. Terrain characteristics showed a strong influence on the amount of fuel consumption, required energy input and GHG emissions, leading to higher environmental burden and higher road construction costs.

Forest roads are important for adequate management of natural resources, but
they are also a dominant contributor of sediment to forest streams and water
pollution. This study measured road sediment concentration from forest roads
to determine the impact of rainfall intensity and cutslope types on sediment
concentration in the Patom district of northern Iran. Two 110 m road segments
with variable soil and rock fragment cover exposed at the cutslopes were studied.
Seven rainfall and corresponding runoff events were measured in 1-liter
bottle samplers every 10 minutes at the outlet of cross sectional culverts, and
from two 3 m2 plots on the roadbeds adjacent to each cutslope. A statistically
significant difference at the 95% confidence level between two cutslope types
and rainfall intensity on sediment concentration was determined from the field
data based on nonparametric tests, though no statistically significant difference
in the concentration of sediment between the two roadbeds plots were
found. The average of sediment concentration of soil trench and the rock fragment
cover cutslopes were 60.3 and 46.8 g/l, respectively. The results reported
here should help forest road managements to improve the understanding
of cutslopes erosion and sediment production from forest roads and to employ
suitable methods to reduce sediment production.

Die Vegetation der Industriewälder auf Zollverein wird auf pflanzensoziologischer Basis dokumentiert und diskutiert. Grob lassen sich die Gehölzbestände in zwei Gruppen, die spontanen, birkendominierten sowie die ehemals mit Robinien begründeten Industriewälder gliedern. Innerhalb der Syntaxa erfolgt eine feinere Differenzierung. Die Industriewälder weisen einen enormen Gehölzartenreichtum auf, der z. T. auf Kulturflüchtlinge aus benachbarten Gärten und Parkanlagen zurückzuführen ist. Eine Prognose, in welche Richtung die Waldentwicklung gehen wird, ist zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch nicht möglich.

Extraction distance is an important factor used for locating new forest roads. Correction factors should be used for adapting theoretical models to real life situations. The aim of this study was to show how extraction distance and the correction factors can be computed and used for assessing forest road options in a more efficient and effective manner using process automation in GIS. The study was located in a mountain forest in the South Central Carpathians of Romania. For determining the mean extraction distance, 71.5 km of skid trails were tracked in the field and mapped in GIS. Four computing methods were defined: raster method, grid point method, buffer strips method and center of gravity method. For testing and validating the methods, four infrastructure scenarios were defined: one was describing the existing forest infrastructure and three others were proposing new road options. Statistical analyses were performed for testing the accuracy and the possible differences between methods. The paired samples t-tests revealed significant differences between scenarios proposing new forest roads and the current infrastructure conditions. The raster method, the grid point method and the buffer strip method reported high accuracy for computing the mean extraction distance. This study reported an extraction correction factor (ks) value of 1.50 and a total correction factor
(kt) value of 3.40 which can be used for rough calculations in practice. The automation models developed in GIS improved the efficiency of computations. The correction factors determined in this study were comparable with those
reported in literature, highlighting the reliability of the analysed methods.

Kinect is the de facto standard for real-time depth sensing and motion capture cameras. The sensor is here proposed for exploiting body tracking during driving operations. The motion capture system was developed taking advantage of the Microsoft software development kit (SDK), and implemented for real-time monitoring of body movements of a beginner and an expert tractor drivers, on different tracks (straight and with curves) and with different driving conditions (manual and assisted steering). Tests show how analyses can be done not only in terms of absolute movements, but also in terms of relative shifts, allowing for quantification of angular displacements or rotations.

This work consists of designing a virtual mobile xiloteca (Xiloteca is a file of woods or a place where several types of wood are stored and relative information about its anatomical structure.). The woodwork is necessary to know the scientific and economic value of the existing wood. The construction of the project that is an application will be given using computational tools that holds technologies that make it possible to access a library of any place just by carrying a smartphone and having a carrier to transmit 3G or 4G signal. Thus, as the mobile phone will be the physical medium, the virtual technology used will be the "cloud" or "cloud computing" where the data will be stored in the library.

The forest industry around the world is facing common challenges in accessing wood fiber on steep terrain. Fully mechanized harvesting systems based on specialized machines, such as winch-assist forwarders, have been specifically developed for improving the harvesting performances in steep grounds. While the mechanization process is recognized as a safety benefit, the use of cables for supporting the machine traction needs a proper investigation. Only a few studies have analyzed the cable tensile forces of winch-assist forwarders during real operations, and none of them focused on large machines normally used in North America. Consequently, a preliminary study focused on tensile force analysis of large winch-assist forwarders was conducted in three sites in the interior of British Columbia during the fall of 2017.
The results report that in 86% of the cycles, the maximum working load of the cable was less than one-third of the minimum breaking load. The tensile force analysis showed an expected pattern of minimum tensile forces while the forwarders were traveling or unloading on the road site and high tensile forces when operating on steep trails, loading or traveling. Further analysis found that the maximum cycle tensile forces occurred most frequently when the machines were moving uphill, independently of whether they were empty or loaded. While the
forwarders were operating on the trails, slope, travel direction, and distance of the machines from the anchor resulted statistically significant and able to account for 49% of tensile force variability. However, in the same conditions, the operator settings accounted for 77% of the tensile force variability, suggesting the human factor as the main variable in cable tensile force behavior during winch-assist operations.

The pellet market has experienced a continuous development and increase in recent years due to a number of positive properties of this enhanced biomass. However the supply chain has not been entirely able to follow the same trend, causing some issues, often related to the quality of traded products. These problems can be partially solved by ensuring a continuous and reliable flow of information regarding the quality parameters of wood pellets from the producers to the final users. The aim of this work is to define a metric index for quality parameters that can detect the certifiability of analyzed samples compared with those on the market. The model is built on measured quality parameters of certified and non-certified wood pellet samples taken from products on the market applying a multivariate class modelling methodology (soft independent modelling of class analogy, SIMCA). Results showed that the model can predict the general quality of some test samples and that its precision, already fairly high, can be constantly improved by adding new model samples. The output of the model is also the relative influence (modelling power) of each variable in the prediction of certifiability. The SIMCA model could be easily integrated and implemented on the most common digital platforms where users (private, laboratories, agencies, etc.) could test their samples and verify if the index of their pellet falls within the area defined by the model for certified samples.

The growing interest about wood as fuel regards not only wood chips and pellets but also firewood, especially in mountain and rural areas where domestic heating plants are widely used. Due to the increased demand for firewood, harvesting activities have extended on broadleaved high forests as well as coppice. As a consequence, the diameter of logs has increased requiring larger and larger splitting machines; nowadays it is not uncommon to find on the market splitters able to process logs with diameter up to 50-60 cm. In order to increase the productivity, the effort of machine producers is directed to obtain the complete splitting of the log into firewood in only one step using multiple ways splitting knives. This technical solution may cause some drawbacks especially when the splitting knives are not properly adapted to the log diameter; it happens that the size of firewood is not homogeneous and splinters are produced, which requires using screens to separate them from the main product. In order to evaluate the work quality of a firewood processor, equipped with multiple ways splitting knives, an experimental test has been carried out using a machine in which the log diameter is automatically detected through a laser device; according to the log diameter the multiple ways splitting knives (formed by fixed and mobile knives, the latter hydraulically operated) is properly set up to obtain regularly sized firewood. Furthermore the log is automatically centred on the splitting knife set-up. The results of the experimental test showed that the firewood processor is able to produce firewood with homogeneous size and with a low production of splinters, regardless of log diameter.

Kinect is the de facto standard for real-time depth sensing and motion capture cameras. The sensor is here proposed for exploiting body tracking during driving operations. The motion capture system was developed taking advantage of the Microsoft software development kit (SDK), and implemented for real-time monitoring of body movements of a beginner and an expert tractor drivers, on different tracks (straight and with curves) and with different driving conditions (manual and assisted steering). Tests show how analyses can be done not only in terms of absolute movements, but also in terms of relative shifts, allowing for quantification of angular displacements or rotations.

Моделювання роботи двобарабанного привода підвісної канатної лісотранспортної установки із урахуванням характерних особливостей для встановлення взаємозв’язку між темпом вмикання фрикційної муфти та динамічними навантаженнями у ланках привода.
Динамічну модель привода підвісної канатної лісотранспортної установки розроблено на основі методу Д’Aламбера. Для чисельного інтегрування систем диференціальних рівнянь руху застосовано модифікований метод Ейлера.
Розроблено динамічну модель двобарабанного привода підвісної канатної лісотранспортної установки з двигуном внутрішнього згорання та фрикційною муфтою. У динамічній моделі привода враховано: темп включення фрикційної муфти, можливість роботи двигуна внутрішнього згорання на зовнішній і регуляторній швидкісних характеристиках, характер зміни технологічних сил опору, багатошарове намотування каната на приводний барабан. Змодельована робота привода за різного темпу увімкнення фрикційної муфти,визначено динамічні навантаження, що виникають у фрикційної муфті та передачах привода. Розроблено нові та удосконалено наявні методики, алгоритми і програми для розрахунків динамічних зусиль у ланках привода.

Abstract The paper presents the conditions in which forest production as well as forest road design and construction in Slovenia are going on. The most important influential factors and the limitations in the production process have been given special emphasis, among which there are also potential environmental disturbances and forest functions. A brief description of a method based on multicriteria decision making, a model form of which was applied in the analysis of technologies and forest road network in the Jezersko forest region, is presented as well. The results indicate the suitability of terrain for the design and construction of forest roads and skidding tracks. An analysis of the present forest road and skidding track network as well as a comparison of terrain suitability with the suitability of all terrain have been made as well. It has been established that especially in the construction of forest roads and skidding tracks difficulties regarding construction have strongly been taken into consideration, because the existing network is situated on terrain which is easier than the average. Finally, the possibilities as to the further developments of the model have been indicated.

ABSTRACT Advanced logistics and transportation concepts are required to improve the timber industry supply chain. In this paper, terminal operation concepts are analyzed to show a strengthening of railway timber transport. As a first step, a detailed process analysis of roundwood (i.e. sawlogs and pulpwood) transport and its handling in dedicated wood terminals is made. Through a mass flow analysis the structure of timber transportation, in terms of both the transport mode and the actual spatial distribution of the wood transports, are evaluated. A generic discrete-event simulation model is developed in order to analyze various prevalent terminal layout configurations and to disclose potential improvements within the timber railway transportation system. This is done by proposing new terminal layouts and new railway transport options. We conduct comprehensive simulation experiments of the wood supply network with several terminals and industry sites to reveal the system’s bottlenecks and appropriate railway operation schedules. As a result, for the analyzed system, changing the railway operation from a single wagon load to a shuttle system almost doubles the capacity for round wood transportation. If it is feasible to change the terminal layout (i.e. loading track length), railway transport volumes can be further increased.