Forest companies across Canada are interested in using laser scanners for scaling logs because it has potential for reducing scaling costs. Scanning logs over bark requires a method to obtain the under-bark diameter in order to calculate the solid wood volume. This report evaluates the methods of applying a bark factor to determine under-bark diameter. It also identifies new scanner scaling technologies for measuring bark thickness.
Quality hardwood lumber is becoming increasingly scarce, while demand for it shows no sign of abating. Poor quality logs are finding their way into sawmills' yards, while some veneer and sawmill quality logs are being downgraded due to poor processing.
Abstract
Le bois de qualité provenant des essences feuillues se fait de plus en plus rare, tandis que la demande pour celui-ci ne semble pas vouloir fléchir. Il arrive que des billes de piètre qualité se retrouvent dans la cour des scieries, alors que certaines billes de qualité déroulage et sciage sont déclassées à cause d’un mauvais façonnage.
Faced with a complex forestry reality, several stakeholders in the Mauricie region have come together to form the GIM (Mauricie Initiative Group). This group, composed of industrialists and representatives of the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP), wishes to develop a new vision of the wood industry in the Mauricie region by optimizing the potential of the forest by optimizing the potential of the Mauricie forest. In this perspective, all segments of the value chain, from the forest to the mills, have been analyzed.
Abstract
Devant une réalité forestière complexe, plusieurs intervenants de la Mauricie se sont regroupés pour former le GIM (Groupe Initiative Mauricie). Ce groupe, composé d’industriels et de représentants du ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP), souhaite développer une nouvelle vision de la filière bois en Mauricie en optimisant le potentiel de la forêt mauricienne. Dans cette optique, tous les segments de la chaîne de création de valeur, de la forêt aux usines, ont été analysés.
A relatively new log scaling Android app called Timbeter (www.timbeter.com) or Logsize (www.logsize.com) was developed by an Estonian company and generated interest among forestry professionals. The app basic function is to estimate log pile volumes from a photograph taken with a mobile device. The app can be installed free of charge in Android mobile devices (phones and tablets) from Google Play and it comes with a two week free trial period. According to the company, the latest app update will work will all Android 4.0+ mobile devices that have an accelerometer sensor. However, before installing the app, it is a good practice to check that your device has the right operating system and sensor. We tested the app in a Le Pan TC802A tablet with Android 4.2.2 operating system.
Forestry companies are interested in scanner scaling because of its potential for reducing scaling costs, retaining and recruiting new scalers and improving scale accuracy. This Info Note is an overview of scanner scaling covering regulations, implementation scenarios and costs from a B.C. perspective.
The merchantable tree-length size and quality has decreased over the past four (4) years. The average volume per merchantable tree-length was 0.876 cubic meters in 1985 versus only 0.705 cubic meters in 1989. This situation has forced Commonwealth Plywood to merchandize the company veneer grade of Deroulable in order to support its veneer plant. The resource merchandizing study identified a 3.5% veneer and 20.7% Deroulable recovery compared to a 40.4% veneer volume in 1985. By accepting a lower grade of veneer, the company is also manufacturing lower quality sawlogs. For tree-lengths containing butt rot or other veneer limiting defects such as: shake and seams, short F-1 or F-2 sawlogs were bucked to produce a veneer log once defects were removed. From tree-lengths containing little or no rot, lower quality sawlogs were merchandized further up the tree stem as a result of taking Deroulable veneer from the butt section. The general quality of the 1989 study sawlogs was better than the 1985 SIP sawlogs at the expense of recovering a lower volume and grade of veneer. The impact of this improved sawlog quality has benefited the conversion efficiency at the sawmill as opposed to the veneer mill. The lumber volume recovery dropped from 195bf per m3 in 1985 to 177 bf per m3 in 1989. On the other hand, lumber grade recovery was better for the 1989 study compared to the 1985 SIP as shown by the No.1 Common and Better recoveries of 35.7 versus 18.0%, respectively. The net effect of a higher grade recovery more than offset th lower volume recovery as summarized by the sawmill profitability analysis. The gross profits (before taxes) were -$6.54, +$8.42 and -$38.43 per Mbf lumber tally for the 1985 SIP study, the 1989 study and the 1989 long-term company average, respectively. The gross profit for the 1989 study sawlogs was significantly higher than for the present long-term results due to a better combination of lumber volume and grade recovery. The sawmill profitability analysis for the 1989 study logs differs greatly compared to the company's long-term average raising a question concerning the selection of a representative sawlog sample. Sawlog quality is a direct reflection of the resource quality. Furthermore, sawmill profits will vary considerably with sawlog quality. With a declining resource quality and a compay policy of maximizing veneer volume, there is increasing pressure on the veneer mill and sawmill to improve profitability as profit centres. Since Commonwealth Plywood is an integrated veneer/sawmill company, poor resource allocation will generally impact each profit centre in an offsetting manner. However, a serious decline in resource quality and improper resource merchandizing will adversely affect both the veneer and sawmill significantly. This study observed certain log making procedures that will improve the overall operating efficiency of both the veneer plant and sawmill. Recommendations are provided to address problems of tree-length merchandizing and sawlog scaling impacting on company profitability.
Obtaining accurate log lengths on a continuous basis with a harvester is imperative to limit losses in fiber volume and value to the mill. However, scaling errors are common and their causes vary. In its work on different scaling devices, FERIC has identified the factors that can cause errors in log scaling FERIC has identified the factors that can cause log measurement errors and has proposed ways to correct them. The most important of these is the regular calibration of the measurement device.
Abstract
Obtenir des longueurs de billes précises de façon continue avec une abatteuse-façonneuse est impératif pour limiter les pertes en volume de fibre et en valeur à l’usine. Or, les erreurs de mesurage sont fréquentes et leurs causes diverses. Dans ses travaux portant sur différents dispositifs de mesurage, FERIC a mis en évidence les facteurs susceptibles de causer des erreurs dans le mesurage des billes et a proposé des moyens d’y remédier dont le plus important est le calibrage régulier du dispositif de mesurage.
