Development of a computer-aided decision support system for timber harvesting operations in forestry industry

Abstract

A user-friendly timber simulation program was developed by using object oriented programming technique. The Component Object Model (COM) was used to design and implement the program. Three major modules were included in the harvesting simulation system: RUN, ANALYSIS, and REPORT. Input to the system includes species composition, stand density, spatial pattern, felling machine and cutting method for the felling simulation, and extraction machine and extraction pattern for the extraction simulation. Output is either a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional stand map that lists species, DBH, spatial location, and total height for each individual tree and a harvested site together with all operation data saved to the relational database. The decision support system for timber harvesting operations could aid forest managers to examine the harvesting techniques and interactions among stand, harvest, and machines in terms of production, cost, and traffic intensity. It is a useful tool for decision-making in harvesting operation management.