Digitalization of timber harvesting performance monitoring

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Increased demands from different stakeholders on the timber harvesting landbase combined with fiber shortages experienced in various regions across Canada, are highlighting the need to monitor, improve, and maximize timber harvesting performance. Digitalization, big data analytics, technology development, and integration of remote sensing in harvesting operations have been recognized as critical success factors to support the short, medium, and long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the forest sector in Canada. This two-year project will thus support a Highly Qualified Personnel working at UBC Faculty of Forestry and FPInnovations to develop and field-test advanced digitalization and monitoring solutions for supporting the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the forest industry supply chain in Canada.Outcomes of the project will be a major contribution towards further digitalization of fibre supply chains, providing operational solutions for close-to-real-time monitoring of fully mechanized tree-length harvesting operation performances. These solutions will also be transferable to various other forest operations and applications across Canada. In addition, the expected outcomes will also address the significant knowledge gaps linked to highly variable stands in difficult terrain and will enable full implementation of newly introduced harvesting solutions for steep slope timber harvesting (i.e., winch-assist technologies).