Preliminary communication

Utilizing Airborne Laser Scanning Technology in Predicting Bearing Capacity of Peatland Forest

Jori Uusitalo ; The Finnish Forest Research Insititute Western Finland Regional Unit Kaironiementie 15 39700 Parkano FINLAND
Tomi Kaakkurivaara ; The Finnish Forest Research Insititute Western Finland Regional Unit Kaironiementie 15 39700 Parkano FINLAND
Maarit Haavisto ; Stora-Enso Wood Supply FINLAND

Abstract

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) technology is receiving increasing attention in forestry. So far, ALS is mainly utilized at a rather abstract level to derive better estimations on the composition of forest stands (e.g. volumes of wood assortments per hectare). Recent rather expensive ALS inventory projects have raised interest in whether other purposes can also benefit from ALS data. The paper demonstrates a case study where the ALS data was utilized in predicting the bearing capacity of peatland forest. The study stand was divided into 16 × 16 m grids within which the volume of trees in each cell was estimated. In addition, the height of the terrain
(elevation) at each point was estimated. The stand was harvested with a harvester and a for­ warder during the summertime, after which the ruts of the trails were measured. The results indicate that ALS may be a promising technology in making predictions on the bearing capac­ity of peatland forests prior to harvest. More research in this subject is however needed to develop the most effective methods. Both the volume of trees and the relative elevation of the surface of the peatland may be regarded as beneficial information in the prediction of bearing capacity.

Keywords

tree harvesting; ALS; rut depths

Hrčak ID:

116849

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/116849

Publication date:

3.9.2012.

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