Mehmet EKER and Hulusi ACAR
Black Sea Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Trabzon, and
Ali KARAMAN and Sadik ÇAĞLAR
Kafkas University, Faculty of Forestry, Artvin
TURKEY
Abstract
Because of the excessive demand for wood raw material in the harvesting process, it is obligatory to obtain the wood without losing sight of quality as well as quantity.
Operational activities in forests cause substantial damage to the forest ecosystem. In the timber extraction phase, the first step of timber transportation, the damage originating from harvesting operations can be reduced by using skylines, a mechanized logging technique.
A Gantner long-distance skyline was tried in Artvin, which is located in the mountainous eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In this study, factors such as total work time and productivity were investigated. Therefore, in both studies (Alabalik and Soçidibi) work and time consumption were observed and analysed, and their productivity estimated.
The following results were obtained from the Alabalik and Soçidibi study areas: in the average workplace the time of timber extracted productivity was 4.03 m3 per hour in the Alabalik study areas, where logs of coniferous (fir) were logged as cut-to-length. There was an average 80 percent hill slope and the skyline cable's length was 1 200 m. The corresponding result for the Soçidibi area was 6.98 m3 per hour, where coniferous (spruce) logs were also extracted. In places the terrain slope was 70 percent and the cable's length was 700 m. In both study areas, extraction was done from uphill to downhill. Arrival of the loaded carriage to downhill, pulling of bundle hook to logs, hooking, and unhooking were the most effective work phases. Dragging from side, number of pieces and average volume of logs were found as effective for productivity. Due to using a skyline, the skidding damage to forest soils, stumpage, and regeneration was reduced considerably.
A decision should be made during the tactical and operational planning stages concerning where the skyline corridor should be mounted in order to shorten the setting time of long-distance skylines. In practice, multiple chokers should be used; dragging from the side should be done before mounting the skyline. Experienced winch operators and workers must be employed. They must be trained and should use safety clothes, shoes, helmets and gloves.
Key words: Timber extraction, Gantner skyline, time analyses, Artvin Region, Turkey
Introduction
Extraction is the process of moving trees or logs from the cutting site to a landing or roadside where they will be processed into logs, or consolidated into larger loads for transport to a processing facility or other final destination. Regardless of the type of logging system used, extraction is a difficult, often hazardous operation that can inflict substantial damage on the forest ecosystem (Dykstra and Heinrich, 1996).
In Turkey, about 27 percent (20.7 million ha) of total area is covered by forests and other wooded land. Of these areas, 48 percent are productive forest land. Total high forests have 1 032 740 659 m3 timber volume (Ministry of Forestry, 2000). Overall demand for timber, terrain use without planning, exceptional legal regulations in the forest law, and grazing are causing the drawing of forests to mountainous terrain, where forestry activities are heavy and quite costly. Because of the superabundance of underemployment in rural regions and forest villages of Turkey, forestry harvesting operations are still carried out by forest villagers. Thus, there are no mechanized harvesting operations in some parts of Turkey. The use of skylines, short-medium-long distance, began at the end of the 1970s in Turkey, mostly in the mountainous eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey (Aykut, Acar and Sentürk, 1997).
Our study areas of Alabalik and Soçibidi - in the region of Artvin - have a total of 1 343 074 ha of forest land, and 82 percent of these areas are high forest. In that forest area, the Artvin Region has 6.6 percent of the total Turkish forest area. The average timber volume of these areas is 93 m3 per hectare (Acar and Gümüş, 2000). A study has established that the field slope of these forest areas ranges from 51 to 75 percent (Erdaş and Acar, 1995).
In another study, it was determined that 15 to 17 percent quantitatively, and 10 percent qualitatively, losses occurred with manual extraction methods in these areas (Gürtan, 1975). The study was made in the Cogla, Karçkal, and Çukur areas of Artvin. Productivity was found to be 3.57 stere per hour in Cogla, 5.10 m3 per hour in Karçkal, and 4.36 stere per hour in Çukur when using long-distance winch skylines (Acar and Erdaş, 1992). Productivity was 5.01 m3 per hour when using a Gantner long distance skyline in the Artvin Region (Acar, 1995). By using a Gantner long-distance cable crane in another study in Artvin, with an average cable way distance of 1 500 m, productivity was 4.6 stere per hour (Öztürk, 1996). Again in the mountainous Artvin Region another study showed average time consumption was 27.40 minutes per shift, average long distance was 700 m, and productivity was 4.96 m3 per hour when using a Gantner skyline (Acar and Gümüş, 2000).
In Italy, 16 percent of the forests are located on slopes ranging from 60 to 80 percent; wood harvesting is done from roads, on short distances, only with skylines. In the case of forests located on slopes of 40 percent, with roads at distances of 400 -750-1 200 m, pole type skylines are used in the first and second cases, and traditional cable car skylines in the last case. Daily man yields amounted to 8–10 m3 in the first cases and to 5–8 m3 in the case of cable car skylines (Baldini and Pollini, 1998).
Generally, traditional long-distance gravity cable systems have spans of 1 000 to 1 500 m and logs can be dragged up to 50 m from both sides of the skylines. For instance, in Bhutan and Pakistan, when using a single drum yarder of 50kW and a 25 mm skyline with a cable length of 1 000 m and carrying capacity of 2.5 tonnes, a daily productivity of 20 to 25 m3 has been reported (Heinrich, 1998). In Bhutan, on average the productive work time required per cubic metre of timber extracted by long-distance cable crane was 15.34 min for the traditional practice and 10.52 min for the modified system used. A productivity of 3.88 m3 per hour workplace time was found for traditionally clear-felling practices, and with group selection felling systems it was 5.01 m3 per hour workplace time (Winkler, 1999).
In Austria, 14.48 percent of the timber is harvested with cable systems. This ratio is 1.769 million m3 yield. The amount of timber harvested with cable logging systems has doubled over the last ten years (Trzesnowski, 1998).
In South America, a modified North Band System is used to ground yard bundled 1.5 m wood for distances up to several hundred metres. The output of such a system depends on yarding figures, for example, 10 m3 per hour, 5.5 m3 per hour and 3.5 m3 per hour, respectively. The average trip payload is 0.85 m3 when a modification of the Tyler yarding system is used in one region of South America; the average output of the system varies with yarding distance and terminal times; for example, output for distances of 100, 500, and 1 000 m is around 9.5, 6.1, and 4.2 m3 per hour, respectively (FAO, 1977).
In the planning and organization of cable systems, planning takes 40 percent of the time; organization takes 25 percent, and the execution of the work 25 percent. The remaining time is 10 percent (Trzesniowski, 1998).
Material and method
Material
This investigation was conducted at two study sites located in Artvin. The first of them, the Alabalik Study Area, is located in the Ardahan Directorate of State Forest Enterprise, Ortaköy Forest District. The other is the Soçidibi Study Area, located in the Artvin Directorate of State Forest Enterprise, National Park of Hatila Valley. Both of them are located in the mountainous eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In both study areas, the research was done with the Gantner USW model long-distance skyline (Gantner, 1995). The Gantner skyline was used for the extraction of timber that had been blown down by wind.
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| Figure 1. Geographic information on study areas | Photo 1. Gantner USW sledge winch in Soçibidi | |
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| Figure 2. Soçidibi Study Area | Figure 3. Alabalik Study Area |
Method
In the study, the research methodology used for all-time studies conducted during cable logging activities was cumulative, timed exclusively for each work element obtained by extraction. The subjects of observation were the long-distance skyline operations, which were carried out by winch operator. Data were collected to support the analysis of time consumption and the evaluation of time distribution of work phases.
Table 1. Characteristics of the study areas
| Characteristics | Alabalik Study Site | Soçidibi Study Site |
|---|---|---|
| Topographic map | Ardahan F48a4 | Artvin F47d3 |
| Altitude of station | Uphill:1570m - downhill: 1040m | Uphill: 1830m - downhill: 1550 m |
| Extracted tree type | Fir | Spruce |
| Harvesting volume | (Planned) 500 m3 | (Planned) 2 000 m3 |
| Field slope | (Average) 80% | (Average) 70% |
| Hauling way | From uphill (sledge winch) to downhill | From uphill (sledge winch) to downhill |
| Hauling distance | 1 100 m | 700 m |
| Length of cable | 1 200 m | 800 m |
| Dragging from side | Ranged from 35 to 50 m | 15 to 35 m |
| Number of workers | Total: 7 (3 of them are operators) | Total: 6 (2 of them are operators) |
| Number of support | 2 (average height is 30 to 40 m) | 1 (25 m) |
| Angle | West | West |
| Height of skyline | 35 m | 10 to 15 m |
The series of work elements for long-distance skyline activities at each logging place constitutes the work cycle. Explanation of the work cycle is mentioned below:
Apart from mentioned above, these parameters were measured and calculated:
The measurement of time consumption and observations obtained were evaluated with the SPSS Statistical Programme. The most effective work phases were determined for total work time and productivity.
These studies were completed in August 2000 in the Alabalik area and in September 2000 in the Soçidibi area.
Results and discussion
The work elements that most influenced the total work time and productivity were estimated for each study site. By regression analysis and with a 95 percent significant level, these equations were found:
tt = 14.897 + 1.082*(f10) + 1.172*(f5) + 1.487*(f1) (for Alabalik Study Area)
tt = 9.564 + 0.834*(f10) + 2.131*(f3) (for Soçidibi Study Area)
In addition to the equations, time consumption density was given for each work element as follows:
Figure 4. Distribution of work elements density for Alabalik Study Area in percent
Figure 5. Distribution of work elements density for Soçidibi Study Area in percent
So that the work elements could be calculated and their influence on total work time evaluated, the following timetable was designed:
Table 2. Timetable of work phases in percent
| Study area | Haul-back time | *Hooking time | **Pulling loaded carriage time | ***Unhooking time | Productive time | Non-work time | Total work time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabalik | 18.30 | 30.25 | 28.50 | 15.19 | 92.24 | 7.76 | 100% |
| Soçidibi | 14.45 | 28.50 | 29.23 | 19.43 | 91.61 | 8.39 | 100% |
Comments on Table 2:
* Hooking time = Descending of bundle hook + Pulling of hook to logs + Attaching of loads
** P.L. Carriage time = Pulling of loaded hook to carriage and automatic locking + Moving of loaded carriage to landing site
*** Unhooking = Descending of loaded hook to ground + Unhooking of loads + Pulling backwards of empty carriage
The most time consuming work phase times were found to be the hooking and pulling of loaded carriage time in the Alabalik Study Area. Because the skyline was at 35 m in height from the ground, the pulling of the hook to the logs had quite a time consumption. Besides the time involved to unhook the chokers themselves, the hooking took longer because of the delay while workers reached the hook and placed the carriage load pendulum. During the phase of pulling the loaded carriage, hooked logs sometimes were hindered by obstacles such as stumps and rocks while ground skidding.
In the Soçidibi Study Area, the most consuming work phase times were found to be in moving the loaded carriage and hooking. The reasons for this were: delay while the worker reached the empty hook and waited beside the logs; and hindrance of the hooked logs by stumps.
As shown in Table 2, in both study sites the work time would have been quite efficient if the workers had not been delayed. Thus, total productive work times were calculated at 92.24 percent of total work time for the Alabalik Area, and 91.61 percent of total work time for the Soçidibi Area.
According to data obtained from work and time analyses, productivity values were determined as 32.24 m3 per day for the Alabalik study site, and 55.76 m3 per day for Soçidibi. The sum of calculated productivity values are shown in the following table:
Productivity was normal for the Alabalik Study Area and similar to the literature review. In fact, the altitude of the skyline from the ground was high and the pulling of the hook distance to the logs was long, therefore, the productivity value was a good result. Although the dragging from the side distance was high (35 to 55 m), the logging distance (1 100 m) was suitable for a Gantner long-distance skyline. The number of pieces logged per shift, per shift extracted timber volume, and hauling distance had effective parameters vis-à-vis productivity values.
In Soçidibi, productivity was high. Because the hauling distance and the dragging from the side distance was short, this productivity value is higher than in the literature, but worker delay for the pulling of the hook to the logs reduced it.
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| Photo 2. Unloading in the Alabalik Area | Photo 3. Hauling of loaded carriage in the Soçidibi area and support tree |
Table 3. Productivity values of study areas
| Study areas | Transport distance/line distance (m) | Field slope (%) | Average productivity | Relative productivity time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m3/hour | m3/shift | min/shift | min/m3 | |||
| Alabalik | 1 100/1 200 | 80 | 4.03 | 1.84 | 27.41 | 14.88 |
| Soçidibi | 700/800 | 70 | 6.98 | 1.56 | 13.43 | 8.60 |
To provide telecommunications between uphill and downhill stations a radio-control system was used. There were three radio users in the Alabalik area, as the uphill radio users' field of view was restricted. While two of them were standing in the loading and unloading areas, one of them stayed half way up between uphill and downhill. The cable crew consisted of six and seven workers in Soçidibi and Alabalik, respectively.
General observations were obtained from the study sites as follows:
Conclusions and recommendations
Although both the Alabalik Study Area and the Soçidibi Study Area have mountainous terrain conditions, the use of the Gantner long-distance skyline for extraction was found productive. In the areas studied, hardwood (coniferous) trees, blown down by the wind, were yarded. Extraction was from uphill to a downhill loading place. A sledge winch, located in the uphill station, was set up in the wrong place by mistake, 100 m distant from the anchor tree. In order to be extracted, the logs had been heaped up to the uphill station before the skyline was mounted.
At Alabalik, the extraction was accomplished with a Gantner long-distance skyline, and total work times were determined as per average shift (trip period), 27.41 min per shift; per average cubic metre, 14.88 min per m3; and per number of pieces of timber, 9.65 min per load. At Soçidibi, distribution of total time was: 13.43 min per shift, 8.60 min per m3, and 3.73 min per load. Of special interest was the time it took to hook and pull the loaded carriage to the landing place. In addition to the unwillingness of workers, the altitude of the skyline and dragging from side distance, and the hooking of chokers effected the total productive time. Productive work times for each shift were calculated as 92.24 percent (each period time) at the first site and 91.61 percent at the second site.
Productivity at Alabalik and Soçidibi, respectively: 4.03 m3 per hour, 6.98 m3 per hour; and 1.84 m3 per shift, 1.56 m3 per shift, were estimated. These results were effected as follows: per shift consumed total work time, timber volume, per set-up and per metre of the cable line, average size of piece number, bridling and angle of the lateral pull to the skyline, altitude of skyline from ground, rough terrain and weather conditions.
The use of a Gantner long-distance skyline for both study sites was found productively and environmentally sound. To shorten total work time and to prevent harvesting damage, according to the research, application of the skyline is ideal. If a forest road had been constructed for the extraction of the logs, it would not have been economical and would have been damaging to the forest ecosystem.
In order to shorten the total time of each work phase, increase the work and worker productivity, reduce damage, for safety and environmental reasons, the increased use of skylines, where suitable, can be proposed below:
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