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18 November 1998 |
Ref 98/269 |
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Satellite tracking technology, and caterpillar-tracked vehicles, are two elements of new-style logging operations.
Using sophisticated satellite technology that can track logging equipment in space and time, researchers are helping smaller forest-based businesses improve their efficiency. Excavator-based machines also reduce environmental impacts and extend the logging seasons for regrowth forests.
The Forest Technology Program (FTP) won the inaugural Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) award for Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative R&D in Melbourne last week.
The Project involves the Australian Logging Council, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, the University of Melbourne's School of Forestry and more recently the Australian National University's Forestry Department
Program Director, Mr Bill Kerruish from CSIRO says the Project covers a wide range of forests and associated problems in eastern Australia.
"We're looking at harvesting, transport, tree growth, road construction and maintenance," he says. "Together these can account for up to 80 percent of the costs of wood and are the main source of community concern about forestry production."
"Such operations are often contracted to small and medium-sized companies that have earned a reputation for their innovation and efficiency."
Professor Ian Ferguson from the University of Melbourne says satellite technology has been used over the past 2 years to track the movements of logging trucks through forests.
"This information is helping us to develop a road network model for the East Gippsland Region," he says. "The model will be linked to a Geographic Information System to help us better plan logging roads and log storage sites in the future.
"This will help ensure minimal environmental damage as well as reduce transport and road maintenance costs. For example, it could mean fewer or shorter tracks."
Other research indicates that using excavator-based machinery to move logs from stumps to the roadside produces less environmental impact than wheeled machinery, and can extend the logging season, especially with wet eucalypt forests.
Mr Gary Leeson, Chair of the Australian Logging Council and Managing Director of his own logging company, says the Forest Technology Program is just what the industry needed to help make it more viable in the long term.
"Australia imports over a billion dollars worth of wood and paper products each year," he says. "If these projects can help make us both more profitable and environmentally acceptable, then it could help the industry to replace some of these imports."
The FTP also carried out a survey of skills and training needs amongst small logging contractors and found that the area they needed most help in was business management skills.
"On the other hand, larger contractors wanted help with making decisions of a technical nature, especially with regards choosing the right machinery combinations," Professor Ferguson adds.
The FTP is now looking to develop appropriate training programs for such contractors.
Other projects are looking at managing regrowth forest operations, harvest planning and farm forestry operations.
More information from:
Mr Bill Kerruish, ph 02 6281 8235 (work), 02 6281 3650
(home)
Professor Ian Ferguson, ph 03 9344 7169 (work)
Mr Gary Leeson, ph 03 5199 2768 (work), 018 329 412 (mobile)
For media assistance:
Mick Crowe, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, ph 02 6281 8357
(work), 041 969 6184 (mobile)
Jenni Metcalfe, ph 07 3846 7111 (work), 040 855 1866 (mobile)
(Australia's largest scientific research organisation)
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