2017 Volume 99 Issue 3 Pages 111-119
The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to detect potential introduction and harvesting areas for an H-type logging cable system by means of a geographic information system. Using the digital elevation model, the logging cable level was first computed by calculating the mean value in a neighborhood circle with a 750-m radius, which is the actual span of the H-type logging cable system introduced in Odai, Japan. By subtracting the elevation from the logging cable level, a potential introduction area was detected while considering midspan deflection. After inputting information of the road network and plantation distribution, a harvesting potential map was developed. The total potential harvesting area was calculated as 1,045 ha of the total plantation area (14,911 ha). The computed potential harvesting area covered most of the area and was 1.26 ha larger than the actual harvested area. The larger estimation was due to the actual level of the logging cable being lower than that calculated by our study. Thus, the larger value obtained was in line with expectations. Although several issues, including the tendency to overestimate the lifting wire deflection, require further investigation, the proposed methodology easily detects potential introduction and harvesting areas for an H-type logging cable system for a wide area. Therefore, these results will assist in the determination of an appropriate harvesting system.
