Route planning for harvest site access

Abstract

Route planning and development for operational forest harvesting is an important component of the forest management process. The need for an efficient and low-cost transportation network is significant, as it is likely to dictate or impact the profitability of a particular management plan. Approaches for automating or aiding the road planning process are essential. This paper discusses one interpretation of this planning problem and provides a formal mathematical specification of the problem. This research contributes to the further development of analytical methods for addressing operational forest planning and management.