Turning a Winch Skidder into a Self-data Collection Machine Using External Sensors: A Methodological Concept

Abstract

The results of forest production studies are crucial for maintaining the competitive edge of forest industries. Yet, their traditional implementation involves substantial resources including financial ones leading frequently to the limitation of field sampled data. A promising way to collect the needed data while keeping low the number of resources needed is that of using external sensors able to substitute partially or totally the human presence in the field. The usefulness of built-in sensors to collect production data has already been demonstrated for highly-mechanized cut-to-length forest equipment. While being extensively used in many parts of the world, most of the winch skidders lack such a sensor system. This paper describes a methodological concept for field data collection by equipping the winch skidders with external sensors coupled with digital photography and GPS technology.