Assessment on Uphill Yarding with the Combination of Log Chute and Portable Winch

Authors : Hhulusi ACAR, Saliha UNVER OKAN, Kemal UCUNCU

Pages : 34-40

View : 16 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2015-06-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In forestry, it is important that wood production activity, which intervenes most with the ecosystem, should be performed by a minimum quality and quantity losses on wood, along with minimum damage to residual stand. Besides, it is also of a great importance that the operation should be done ergonomically. In this study, the use of an integrated system that consists of a portable winch and chute system was evaluated in the uphill yarding of logs in a mountainous terrain. The average speed of uphill yarding using a portable winch was 14.97 m/min and the productivity was calculated as an average of 5.92 m 3 /hour. Statistically, it was determined that the log volume and winching time were the main factors that affect the productivity. Also, it was found that the size of the log and skidding distance are effective on winching time. Moreover, it was confirmed that the speed of uphill yarding did not change significantly considering the different volumes of logs. The portable winch, which has a reasonable price that can be afforded by forestry workers, is productive, environmentally friendly, and multi-purposed equipment. This system combining log chute and portable winch has provided an important alternative by which logging operation can be done easily in an ergonomic way and forest managements can fulfil their duties within the course of planned time without any setbacks.
Keywords : Portable winch, Chute system, Uphill yarding, Productivity, Mountainous terrain