From the front lines and back rooms: news highlights
Welcome to the second issue of “The Log”, the
newsletter of Programme Three Harvesting and Operations. It has
been a productive time for the Harvesting and Operations team since
issue one was released; here is just a glimpse...
[read more]
CRC hybrid shunt truck at Sydney truck show
 A
shunt truck that has been purchased by the CRC for Forestry and
modified by inventor Cliff Hall will feature at the Sydney truck
show, 7-9 August. The diesel truck has been fitted with a
supplementary electric motor at the front axle, which will power
the vehicle at times of extra load – such as at start-up or
going up hills – improving vehicle efficiency, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and prolonging the life of the
conventional diesel motor [ read
more]
Log measurement accuracy
An accuracy study of mechanical harvesters in a pine plantation in
Mt Gambier has resulted in three recommendations to reduce time and
money spent on manual measurements. Martin Strandgard summarises
his research...
[read
more]
New research scientist in Western Australia
John Wiedemann
(left) of WAPRES took up
the position of Programme Three Research Scientist in Western
Australia on a 75 per cent basis from 1 July. John is based in
Manjimup and will work closely with Programme Leader
Mark Brown and Research Scientist
Mauricio Acuna. John is currently working on a project plan for
harvesting studies for industry partners in Western Australia. If
you would like to discuss harvesting and operations in Western
Australia please email John or
phone 08 9771 7400.
Machine evaluation on the front line - workshop series
A targeted and operational series of half-day
workshops was held in three states in May, lead by Dr Mauricio
Acuna and featuring international visiting scientist Ernie
Heidersdorf (the recently retired research director of the Forest
Engineering Research Institute of Canada). The workshops in Western
Australia, South Australia and Tasmania attracted both CRC partners
and contractors...
[read more]
Profile: Dr Mauricio Acuna, Research Fellow
 Dr Mauricio Acuna has been
involved in harvesting, roading, and transportation research for
more than 14 years. His work and research in the forest sector have
taken him all around the world to such places as Uruguay, Canada,
the USA and now Australia. Mauricio leads projects on harvesting
productivity and costs, and the development of an optimal logging
truck scheduling system for Programme Three ... [read
more]
Programme Coordinating Committee meeting highlights
 At the
Harvesting and Operations Programme Coordinating Committee meeting
in Albany in February, the committee reviewed and approved a
revised budget, the revised programme agreement, the strategic work
plan and an international visitor plan. Members were asked to
identify priority research areas for their organisations through an
activity ranking exercise... [read more]
New Programme Coordinating Committee member
Stephen
Martyn (left), of WAPRES,
replaces John Wiedemann
on the Programme Coordinating Committee (PCC) now that John has
taken up his new role as Research Scientist in Western Australia.
Stephen joins other PCC members Andrew
Callister, Andrew
Wiggill, Andrew Wye,
Bernie
Dell, Brett Humble,
Darrell
Clark, Greg Nolan,
Harry
Marsland, Ian Dumbrell,
Jerry
Vanclay, Jim O'Hehir,
Justine
Edwards, Leon Bren,
Mark
Diedrichs, Peter
Rutherford, Peter Volker,
Sandra
Hetherington, Sean Riley and
Stephen
Roffey.
Industry commentary: Jim O’Hehir, ForestrySA
 Now that most of
the appointments have been made within the Harvesting and
Operations Research Programme – most notably that of the
Programme Leader - substantial and rapid progress can be seen. It
is an important achievement to have an operational plan defined and
progress can also be seen in delivering some of the
programme’s first tasks...[read
more]
Notes from AusTimber 2008
The international conference and exhibition for
the forest industries started with an impressive gathering of over
100 high school career advisors to participate in seminars about
opportunities in the forest industry. The technical conference that
followed gave a good overview of the forest industry and where
Australia stands in the world. The week finished with a large and
impressive exhibition of equipment, both static and active...
[read more and
see the pictures]
Have your say
We welcome your comments on issues one and two of
The Log.
Issue three is scheduled for November 2008 and
we welcome your contribution.
Please always feel free to contact any of the
Harvesting and Operations programme members - Mark,
Tom, Mauricio,
Martin or Loren - if you have
any questions about current or future activities, or would like
greater detail on anything reported in this newsletter.
Please contact Programme Leader
Mark Brown to have your say.
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