Landing Characteristics for Harvesting Operations in New Zealand

Abstract

Landings are an integral part of modern whole-tree harvesting operations in pine plantations in New Zealand. However, little information has been published about size of landings and the factors that influence landing characteristics. A representative sample of 142 landings was measured using Global Positioning System (GPS); 12 were recently constructed (unused), 38 were live, and the remaining 92 were older and closed out. The average landing size was 3900 m2 (0.96 acres), with a range from 1370 to 12540 m2. On average the number of log-sorts cut was 11, the landings were in use for four weeks, estimated daily production was 287 tons/day, 47% were manual processing (53% mechanized), and 79% were grapple loader (21% front-end loader). A regression equation to model landing size indicates that number of log sorts and production levels are the two main factors that determine landing size. Landings do tend to ‘grow’ over time, with used landings on average being 900 m2 larger than recently constructed landings. The most recently constructed landings were much larger than the company design; whereas either 40x60 m or 40x80 m were common specifications. A comparable study in 1987 showed the average landing to be just over 1900 m2 (0.47 acres), indicating landing size has nearly doubled in the last 20 years. Landings serviced by front-end loaders were on average 1100 m2 larger than those serviced by grapple loader, but this result is compounded by the fact that front-end loaders are more commonly used in high-production systems