A new harvest operation cost model to evaluate forest harvest layout alternatives

Abs tract: In th is pape r w e de ve lop a ne w m ode l for h arve s t ope ration cos ts th at can be us e d to e valuate s tands for pote ntial h arve s t. Th e m ode l is bas e d on fe ling, e xtraction, and acce s s cos ts and is uniq ue in its cons ide ration of th e inte raction be tw e e n h arve s t are a s h ape s and acce s s roads . W e ilus trate th e m ode l and e valuate th e im pact of s tand s ize , volum e , and road cos t w h e n de te rm ining h arve s t layouts . Since th e approach lays th e foundation for ope rational and tactical inte gration, future re s e arch w il inte grate th e tw o le ve ls for both th e s ingle and m ulti-pe riod proble m .