Analysis of Inclusion of Wood Forwarding into a Skidding Model

Mechanized felling was introduced in Slovenia at the beginning of this decade, and before that Slovenian forestry relied on motor manual felling and tractor skidding or cable crane yarding. In this research we are dealing with wood forwarding. Model skidding maps were built, using terrain classification and decision support systems for forwarders and tractor trailers. The purpose of this research is to establish how to plan in advance new individual skidding systems, which involves changing the skidding map. In the first phase, the criteria for the selection of skidding means were determined using multicriterial methodology, and then this model was applied to a study area. In the third stage we conducted a comparison between the reference map provided by the Slovenian Forest Service and the model map resulting from steps one and two. Afterwards it was determined which types of terrain were selected for forwarding and which forms of skidding would face the most serious competition from forwarding. It was determined that the terrain allows for more forwarding than suggested by the reference skidding map. In the research area most of the forest is privately-owned, making it very unlikely that large forwarders would be used, and so tractor trailers were included in the model. Including tractor trailers we have established, that tractor skidding increases marginally at the expense of forwarding, in particular in terrain with higher terrain gradient and more difficult working conditions