Courses: __Easc 313 __Easc 413 __Easc 418 __Easc 419

EASC 419 - 1: FOREST HARVESTING TECHNOLOGY

Course Outline

The objective of this course is to provide geoscience students with an introduction to the engineering aspects of forest management and to the methods used in the harvesting of timber in British Columbia. It is essential for forest geoscientists to be fully cognisant of the nature, limitations, advantages and implications of forest harvesting technology on terrain impact and its mitigation.

Prerequisites:
Completion of 60 credit hours of courses in Earth Science/Physical Geography.

Course Structure
The course will consist of two components:
a. Lectures and invited seminars will be given by professional foresters and engineers
b. Field work covering varied aspects of forest harvesting techniques and operational forestry management.
Students should budget for $150 field costs (food and lodging).

Course Topics
Forest Harvesting Techniques
Ground-based systems: skidders, hoe-chucking, feller-forwarder.
Cable systems: grapple yarding, highlead and skyline.
Aerial systems: Helicopter logging and balloons.
Hand logging and horse logging.
Tailhold stumps and guylines.
Elements of operational logging:
Layout of cut blocks and road systems
Partial harvests vs. clearcutting,
Cut patterns and their effects
Forest roads as a function of harvesting: requirements and expected loading.
Bridges, culverts and drainage structures on forest roads.
Forest development plans.

Course Text
Macdonald, A.J. 1999. Harvesting Systems and Equipment in British Columbia. Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada. Handbook No. HB12.
Relevant handouts will be provided

Course Grade
Written report 100%

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Courses: __Easc 313 __Easc 413 __Easc 418 __Easc 419