Optimal Skid Trail Spacing for Small Vehicles in Thinning
Authors
M. Shishiuchi
Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
Abstract
In Japan, the extent of man-made forests has reached 10 million ha. These forests were mainly established after World War II and are now at thinning age. Effective methods for thinning are being developed. In this paper the spacing of skid trails suitable for mini-forwarder with a grapple loading boom and a winch and mobile mini-yarder are discussed, mainly from the economic point of view. Results indicate that the skid trail spacing of about 40 m for the timber extraction with the mini-forwarder and about 140 m for the mobile mini-yarder.
