Vol. 16, No. 2 January 2005

Editor's Note

Forest engineering is a mix of mechanical, human factors and industrial engineering applied to systems originating or operating in a forested environment. We see this broad mix of subjects clearly in this issue, with papers ranging from logistics of complex systems for biofuel delivery and silviculture planning, traditional analysis of logging machine production and very specific mechanical engineering design analyses for loader grapples. This broad range of topics has been one of the constant features of this Journal in the last 15 years and contributes substantially to its value as a repository of scholarly work in the discipline.

In the article by Eva-Lotta Lindholm and Staffan Berg, we see a very interesting historical comparison of fossil fuel energy consumption in forest operations that clearly demonstrates the substantial technological improvements that have occurred in the last decades. This enhanced efficiency has been achieved by combined academic and industrial research and development over the last 25 years and clearly shows the benefits (in this case to the environment) of research investment.

Pierre Zundel
Managing Editor