Forest operations steps and main work systems. The environmental characteristics which influence forest operation. Health and safety in forest operations. Forest tracks and roads: function, classification and planning. Workers management. Forest operation management. Wood defects. Wood-water relation. Wood grading and testing.
Hippoliti G., Piegai F. (2000) - Tecniche e sistemi di lavoro per la raccolta del legno - Casa Ed. Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
G. Bonamini, L. Uzielli, R. Zanuttini – Dispense di Tecnologia del legno (Lecture notes, available for photocopying)
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire the main knowledge both on forest logging technology and management and on wood technology and they will develop skills on forest operation planning and timber grading.
Prerequisites
Suggested: Mathematics, Forest botany, Sylviculture, Cartography, Tree measurement
Teaching Methods
Lectures and field/laboratory practical activities
Type of Assessment
Report on forest operations and oral examination
Course program
Forest operations steps and main work systems. The environmental characteristics which influence forest operation. Health and safety in forest operations. Main features of forest machineries and tools used in felling, processing, extraction and transport. Timber assortments. Time consumption and output. Steel wire ropes. Forest tracks and roads: function, classification and planning. Workers management. Forest operation management.
Wood defects: typologies, origin, drawbacks, advantages. Wood-water relation: moisture, equilibrium moisture content, measuring systems and instruments, shrinkage and swelling. Wood grading and testing: standards, rules and standard bodies; round-wood grading; sawn-wood grading; grading for structural use.