Speaker
Description
Knowledge of costs and profitability are fundamental for planning of all forest operations. Skogkurs is developing a new generation of web-based decision support tools for harvesting, silviculture and forest road networks. These replace traditional Excel-based spreadsheets for increased availability and usage in the field.
For more widespread use such tools need functionality and interfaces tailored for multiple users and mobile devices. The latest example of this is the Productivity and Cost Calculation (PCC) package for CTL harvesting, developed in collaboration with forest owners’ associations, the forest entrepreneur association and NIBIO (Ny kostnadskalkulator for skogsdrifter • Skogkurs). It supports conventional thinning and final felling as well as CCF operations. The programming interface (API) enables integration with stakeholders' external applications. The latest review of PCC server use showed 20 000 database operations for one month (Sept 2025). This usage is far over the levels of earlier downloadable Excel-based versions. Current work focuses on a corresponding package for pre-commercial thinning (PCT). Future work extends to decision support for forest road networks.
Excel is the preferred tool for more advanced calculations. However, it is also associated with difficulty in tracking intentional or non-intentional changes in parameters and formulas by multiple users. The aim of the new toolbox is to facilitate consistent communication and collaboration among colleagues, clients, and contractors on a shared digital platform. Validation of empirical models is done with participating contractors and forestry organizations. Such tools typically suffer from outdated parameters. The new toolbox will therefore be supported by an automated updating with sector cost indexes.
The toolbox architecture provides visual introductions to concepts and parameters relevant for the respective user groups, based on web designers’ best practice. The target groups include forest entrepreneurs, operations planners, and forest managers, as well as educational institutions and forest owners. User testing ensures the desired adaptations to both professionals and less experienced users.
The web-based toolbox enables provides increased insight into cost drivers and maintains focus on productivity development. The current tools are used in education programs ranging from operator apprenticeships to master-level forest operations courses. All stakeholders gain from improved functionality, availability and quality assurance.
| Keywords | online, automatic updating, API, |
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