• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2014

This study was conducted to provide field-based harvesting study information which can be used to select an optimal cable system for certain work conditions on steep grounds (> $20^{\circ}$ ground slope) in Korea. To accomplish this study objectives, we evaluated three cable yarding systems (RME-300T tower-yarder, Chuncheon tower-yarder, FARMI tractor winch) working in typical work conditions for their yarding productivity and operational efficiency. Those yarders are commonly used for removing logs or trees on steep grounds in Korea. Under the same work conditions (average DBH of tree to be cut, 20 cm; yarding distance, 60 m; lateral yarding distance, 10 m; and machine utilization rate, 70%), the average productivities were $33.04m^3$/day, $38.47m^3$/day, and $14.17m^3$/day for RME-300T, Chuncheon tower-yarder, and FARMI, respectively. Our standardized cost comparison study also showed that the yarding cost was highest at $37,835won/m^3$ with FARMI, followed by RME-300T at $25,105won/m^3$ for the same work conditions. We found the lowest yarding cost with the Chuncheon tower-yarder at $20,520won/m^3$ which was resulted primarily from high yarding productivity at the yarding distance (60 m). Our analysis suggested that a small machine such as FARMI could be a low-cost yarding machine option for a cable yarding job with a short yarding distance (40 m or less). The Chuncheon tower-yarder is well suited for a mid-range yarding distance job in Korea, ranged between 40 to 140 m. If yarding distance were longer than 140 m, the RME-300T tower yarder appears to be most cost-effective.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.4
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• pp.574-581
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• 2019

The present study analyzed the productivity and cost of winching operations for evaluating the efficiency of a tractor-attached winch in a Pinus densiflora thinning site located in the Yangyang County of Gangwon-do. The mean yarding distance and mean timber volume were 29 m and 0.15 ㎥, respectively. In the 95 cycles of yarding operations, the uphill and downhill yarding operations constituted 51% and 49%, respectively, of the total yarding operations. The productivity of the uphill yarding operation was 2.28 ㎥/h, and the productivity of the downhill yarding operation was 1.89 ㎥/h. The findings of this study revealedthat productivity would increase by 0.5 ㎥/h when the rate of utilization of the machine is increased to 80% by reducing the operational delay time. The cost of the downhill yarding operation was 44,116 KRW/㎥, whereas that of the uphill yarding operation was 53,369 KRW/㎥. The difference in cost resulted from the difference in the number of yarding stems (stems/cycle). Furthermore, the results of the multiple linear regression equation developed for predicting the yarding operation times showed that productivity was significantly affected by working conditions such as yarding distance (m), the number of stems per cycle (stems/cycle), and the terrain slope (%) in the uphill and downhill yarding operations. Further research is required for developing an accurate prediction model equation according to a yarding direction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.3
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• pp.300-309
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• 2017

The productivity, cost, and optimal forest road network density for tree-length yarding with K301-4 and HAM300 tower yarders were analyzed. The results showed that productivity decreased as the yarding distance increased. The productivity of the K301-4 was greater than that of the HAM300 as the maximum yarding distance was longer than 34 m. This difference increased as the load volume increased. As the K301-4 yarder had a higher purchase price and it took more time to set up compared to the HAM300, the HAM300 was cost effective. Therefore, in oder to introduce tower yarders to reduce operational cost, it is effective to increase the load volume during operations and to utilize the road network repeatedly for a long period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2015

The purpose of study was to broaden our knowledge on the productivity and cost of thinning operations which has become increasingly practiced in Korea. The thinning operations were conducted in a 40-year old larch (Larix leptolepis) stand, including chainsaw felling and processing at the stump, followed by yarding tree-length logs using a Koller K301-4 tower yarder. The logs were further processed and sorted into 1.8 m and 3.6 m log piles at the landing. We used a standard time study method to evaluate key variables that affect the productivity of thinning operations. The total stump-to-pile operational cost was $41,707won/m^3$. The highest cost activity was the yarding phase which cost $20,083won/m^3$ (48.2% of the total cost), followed by the costs of processing treelength materials into marketable log lengths ($12,143won/m^3$; 29.1%), and then by the costs of sorting/piling the processed logs ($5,039won/m^3$; 12.1%). It was interesting to see that felling and processing trees at the stump had low costs at $1,315won/m^3$ (3.2%) and $3,127won/m^3$ (7.5%), respectively. We used the detailed time study data to develop regression equations which were to predict yarding productivity. Our analysis showed that harvesting system cost was highly sensitive to the number of logs, yarding distance and lateral distance per turn, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.1
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• pp.143-155
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• 2013

In order to establish efficient timber harvesting system and provide the necessary data for the system establishment, the techniques to identify areas possible of the yarding-operation and design forest-road networks were newly developed and the applicability of the techniques are tested in this study. The new techniques were developed based on ArcGIS, particularly with utilizing the Viewshed Analysis Tool. From the results of the identification of the possible yarding-operation areas, it is found that the percentage of possible yardingoperation area decreases with the increment of maximum yarding distance due to terrestrial effects. When forest road networks are extended in impossible yarding-operation sites, the area of possible yarding-operation sites increases. If a forest road network is newly designed, its overall extension is altered, resulting in changes in the possible yarding-operation areas. Through the comparative analysis among the different possible yardingoperation areas from different forest road networks, the maximization of the yarding-operation possible area can be achieved. The results from this study can be utilized for establishing more efficient timber-harvesting system and developing GIS-based programs to manage the system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.3
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• pp.266-277
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• 2018

This study was conducted in clear cutting stands. For the whole-tree yarding operation, a tower-yarder based on excavator with a radio-controlled double clamp carriage was applied to analyze yarding productivity and cost. The productivity and cost of yarding operation was $6.2m^3/SMH$(machine utilization rate, 80.4%) and $13,705won/m^3$, respectively. Although the maximum yarding distance was longer than the previous studies, the setting up time of the tower-yarder was decreased as used straw line. The application of the radio-controlled double clamp carriage improved productivity and reduced costs. Based on the fuel log and growing stock($137.0m^3/ha$), the minimum production($m^3$) and area(ha) were $558.3m^3$ and 4.1 ha for Pinus rigida stands and $433.7m^3$ and 3.2 ha for Quercus mongolica stands, respectively. Based on the this study, it will be possible to select an efficient yarding machine by accumulation of data on minimum production and area for many machines in various harvesting sites.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.19
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• pp.45-54
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• 2001

This study was carried out to provide fundamental data for prospective forest-road project and forest-road network arrangement through appraising existing forest-road network with density, extension distance, maximum yarding distance and yarding area, position of forest-road line considered above foundation of two theories, one is "theory of optimal forest-road density" which has expense for yarding cost and constructing forest-road minimized, the other is "theory of optimal forest-road arrangement" which has investment effect maximized. The results are as follows. 1. In density and extension distance of the forest-road by site, it was showed up that density of existing forest-road is lower than that of calculated forest-road. So, it is thought that some additional forest-roads have to be constructed. 2. In the arrangement of the forest-road network by site, it was showed up that the arrangement of calculated forest-road is higher than that of existing forest-road arrangement for the forestry and yarding function. So, it is thought that the arrangement of forest-road network have to be considered to maximize the investment effect. 3. In "mean maximum distance for yarding" and "mean area which yarding can be done" by horizontal and inclined distance, the existing forest-road networks were different from those of calculated forest-road network. So, calculated forest-road network making investment effect maximize is more effective than existing forest-road network. Hence, in prospective forest-road project, it is needed that forest-road network having "area which yarding can be done" maximized through considering function for yarding have to be constructed.