Computer Aided Bucking on a Mechanized Harvester

Abstract

Abstract During June 1989, researchers from the Forest Engineering Department at Oregon State University evaluated the feasibility of using the computer program BUCK® to aid the Hahn Harvester operator in determining the best bucking cuts. The computer was able to increase the total value by 7.5%. This is about US $6.40 per tree for the 38–cm [15-in] diameter trees we processed. This increase was from improved log quality and increased scaling volume when Scribner rules were used. The computer solution cuts roughly 16% more logs. The computer solution increased the volume in the best export sort by 8%. The computer solution could increase the total value by 19.6% if more accurate tree quality information were sent to the computer before the bucking cuts were made. Key words: Optimal buckingcomputerized decision makingmerchandizing logsmechanized processingsortyard