A cost effectiveness approach for configuration of feasible skyline yarder for specific forest regions

Abstract

The skyline yarder usage is the main extraction system in developed countries especially on steep terrains depending on cost effectiveness. Despite the availability of skyline yarder in many different types and characteristics it is extremely important choosing the feasible skyline yarder that will best meet the wood extraction requirements of any particular forest area, whether it is purchased or manufactured. It was aimed to configure the feasible forest skyline yarder by determining the technical and economic characteristics, which will be needed according to the qualifications of wood extraction operations of the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The configuration is based on determining the technical specifications (skyline cable length, max. cycle load capacity and daily productivity) of the skyline yarder according to the extraction distance and the carrying capacity to be determined depending on the load to be carried at carriage cycle time. Technical specifications were evaluated by the cost of skyline yarder operation and the cost of the alternative extracting system by cost-effectiveness analysis method. The study showed that a feasible skyline yarder's technical specification must have at least 700 m yarding distances, ten cycles per a working day and 2.2 t carriage load capacity per cycle. This skyline yarders can be operated at the cost of 16.70 €m3 if the daily productivity amount 30 m3 is. The work machine companies produce in a wide range of technical specifications, for this reason, the feasibility analysis should be made for selection of a logging machine, especially for local usage. Also, if domestic machinery production is considered, this scientific data will be the starting point.