Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands: a Norwegian case study

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands : a Norwegian case study. / Aalmo, Giovanna Ottaviani ; Kerstens, Pieter Jan T; Belbo, Helmer; Bogetoft, Peter; Talbot, Bruce; Strange, Niels.

In: International Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol. 32, No. Suppl. 1, 74-86, 2021.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Aalmo, GO, Kerstens, PJT, Belbo, H, Bogetoft, P, Talbot, B & Strange, N 2021, 'Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands: a Norwegian case study', International Journal of Forest Engineering, vol. 32, no. Suppl. 1, 74-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980

APA

Aalmo, G. O., Kerstens, P. J. T., Belbo, H., Bogetoft, P., Talbot, B., & Strange, N. (2021). Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands: a Norwegian case study. International Journal of Forest Engineering, 32(Suppl. 1), [74-86]. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980

Vancouver

Aalmo GO, Kerstens PJT, Belbo H, Bogetoft P, Talbot B, Strange N. Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands: a Norwegian case study. International Journal of Forest Engineering. 2021;32(Suppl. 1). 74-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980

Author

Aalmo, Giovanna Ottaviani ; Kerstens, Pieter Jan T ; Belbo, Helmer ; Bogetoft, Peter ; Talbot, Bruce ; Strange, Niels. / Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands : a Norwegian case study. In: International Journal of Forest Engineering. 2021 ; Vol. 32, No. Suppl. 1.

Bibtex

@article{53380be08ce74cca89dd968944e81a13,
title = "Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands: a Norwegian case study",
abstract = "This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate how the technical efficiency of forest harvesting operations is influenced by terrain conditions and forest attributes, in addition to exploring the existence of other influencing factors. To this end, 643 shift-level observations of harvesting operations on 253 distinct harvested sites were used. The aim of this study is to highlight the harvester{\textquoteright}s ability to maximize the outputs, represented by the number of assortments for various tree species, given inputs such as harvest volume, harvest time for various tree species, and distance traveled by the harvester. Operational environment variables such as harvest, or decision-making unit (DMU) size, shape, and terrain characteristics were included. We found large variations in efficiency scores, and that inefficient harvest operations could theoretically be improved by reducing input by up to ca. 80%. A second stage regression estimation was applied to identify which factors significantly affected inefficiency. It was found that the inefficiency decreases with increasing stem-volume for pine and broadleaves, increasing stand density, and increasing share of pulpwood and non-marketable timber, while it increases with the number of logs produced per tree (in broadleaves). Inefficiency increases also with an increasing ratio of actual travel distance to minimal travel distance. The study shows how adopting DEA methods in forest operations might be used in combining efficiency analysis and environmental factors, by identifying and measuring inefficiency due to, for example, difficult terrain.",
author = "Aalmo, {Giovanna Ottaviani} and Kerstens, {Pieter Jan T} and Helmer Belbo and Peter Bogetoft and Bruce Talbot and Niels Strange",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980",
language = "English",
volume = "32",
journal = "International Journal of Forest Engineering",
issn = "1494-2119",
publisher = "Taylor & Francis",
number = "Suppl. 1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficiency drivers in harvesting operations in mixed Boreal stands

T2 - a Norwegian case study

AU - Aalmo, Giovanna Ottaviani

AU - Kerstens, Pieter Jan T

AU - Belbo, Helmer

AU - Bogetoft, Peter

AU - Talbot, Bruce

AU - Strange, Niels

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate how the technical efficiency of forest harvesting operations is influenced by terrain conditions and forest attributes, in addition to exploring the existence of other influencing factors. To this end, 643 shift-level observations of harvesting operations on 253 distinct harvested sites were used. The aim of this study is to highlight the harvester’s ability to maximize the outputs, represented by the number of assortments for various tree species, given inputs such as harvest volume, harvest time for various tree species, and distance traveled by the harvester. Operational environment variables such as harvest, or decision-making unit (DMU) size, shape, and terrain characteristics were included. We found large variations in efficiency scores, and that inefficient harvest operations could theoretically be improved by reducing input by up to ca. 80%. A second stage regression estimation was applied to identify which factors significantly affected inefficiency. It was found that the inefficiency decreases with increasing stem-volume for pine and broadleaves, increasing stand density, and increasing share of pulpwood and non-marketable timber, while it increases with the number of logs produced per tree (in broadleaves). Inefficiency increases also with an increasing ratio of actual travel distance to minimal travel distance. The study shows how adopting DEA methods in forest operations might be used in combining efficiency analysis and environmental factors, by identifying and measuring inefficiency due to, for example, difficult terrain.

AB - This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate how the technical efficiency of forest harvesting operations is influenced by terrain conditions and forest attributes, in addition to exploring the existence of other influencing factors. To this end, 643 shift-level observations of harvesting operations on 253 distinct harvested sites were used. The aim of this study is to highlight the harvester’s ability to maximize the outputs, represented by the number of assortments for various tree species, given inputs such as harvest volume, harvest time for various tree species, and distance traveled by the harvester. Operational environment variables such as harvest, or decision-making unit (DMU) size, shape, and terrain characteristics were included. We found large variations in efficiency scores, and that inefficient harvest operations could theoretically be improved by reducing input by up to ca. 80%. A second stage regression estimation was applied to identify which factors significantly affected inefficiency. It was found that the inefficiency decreases with increasing stem-volume for pine and broadleaves, increasing stand density, and increasing share of pulpwood and non-marketable timber, while it increases with the number of logs produced per tree (in broadleaves). Inefficiency increases also with an increasing ratio of actual travel distance to minimal travel distance. The study shows how adopting DEA methods in forest operations might be used in combining efficiency analysis and environmental factors, by identifying and measuring inefficiency due to, for example, difficult terrain.

U2 - 10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980

DO - 10.1080/14942119.2020.1778980

M3 - Journal article

VL - 32

JO - International Journal of Forest Engineering

JF - International Journal of Forest Engineering

SN - 1494-2119

IS - Suppl. 1

M1 - 74-86

ER -

ID: 244242119