Measurement made easy

IN RECENT YEARS, LEADING COMPANIES IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR

have been incorporating cutting-edge technologies in their supply chain, specifically in their fibre measurement processes.

Dr Mauricio Acuna, from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, has been investigating the performance of sensor technology in systems for automated measurements of truckloads for about five years. NZ Logger spoke to him about the technology:

According to your research, what are the main features of these systems?

These systems can scan full truckloads or measure logs on trucks using different sensors such as laser scanners, stereoscopic cameras and RGB cameras, providing quick solid volume estimates and biometric information of the logs (eg, length, diameter).

The Logmeter is one of the systems I have studied; it was developed by Chilean company, Woodtech (www.woodtechms.com). In Australia, this system has been deployed to the Surrey Hills Chip Mill owned by Forico in Tasmania. Several other units of the Logmeter system have been deployed globally over the last 15 years, being one of the most mature, robust, and reliable truckload scanning systems on the market. The Surrey Hills Chip Mill unit is the first one of this type in Australasia.

Can you tell us more about the study conducted in Australia this year and your main findings?

With a team of researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast, we collected data from the Logmeter deployed at the Surrey Hills Chip Mill early this year. We were able to confirm the level of accuracy of the solid volume predictions reported by the system, with errors that lay within 5% in comparison to manual and photogrammetric measurements. The results from our trials have also been used to calibrate and validate the volumetric models, which will result in more accurate measurements and better solid volume predictions, and ultimately in better economic returns to Forico and the haulage contractors.

From an economic point of view, what conclusions can be drawn from the study?

We were able to confirm that automated systems for the measurement of truckloads can save big money for forest growers and processors, representing a strong opportunity for the forestry industry in Australia and New Zealand. Among other benefits, they allow a smooth and quick reception of trucks at mills, improve production planning and logistics, reduce log handling costs, log damage and accidents, and provide better information about the forest resource. In conjunction with moisture control management, they can also reduce truck movements on road networks, with the consequent reduction in fuel consumption and GHG emissions (up to 20% according to our calculations).

For a successful implementation, what must be considered for a company that decides to adopt an automated volumetric system such as the Logmeter?

The deployment of automated systems for the measurements of truckloads and transition from a trading system based on weight to one based on volume must be planned carefully by forest growers and processors, since they may represent a big organisational and cultural change to haulage contractors and other parties in the supply chain. To be accepted and successfully implemented, a trading and payment system based on volumetric measurements must be well understood by all the supply-chain parties, and the benefits must be articulated to all of them. If all these aspects are considered carefully, the benefits associated with automated systems for the measurements of truckloads will largely outweigh their investment and deployment costs.

How does the Logmeter operate?

The following graphic explains the system’s operation: