Feed aggregator

IKEA has announced the next phase in its drone technology: an upgraded AI-powered system capable of operating alongside co-workers around the clock. This advanced system will be integrated into fulfilment units, including distribution centres, which will run continuously. Source: Timberbiz After a successful year of rigorous testing at the Distribution Centre in Winterslag, Belgium, IKEA is ready to deploy its drones to more locations over the next year. “The IKEA drones use an artificial intelligence-based algorithm to identify and photograph product storage locations. In addition, drone flights are pre-scheduled, utilizing a custom indoor positioning system to navigate higher levels of storage locations (for levels 3 and up). Equipped with obstacle detection capabilities, these drones can avoid collisions by rerouting their paths,” said Parag Parekh, Global CDO for IKEA Retail (Ingka Group). The next phase will further boost operational efficiency by automating the physically demanding and time-consuming task of stock inventory, which is otherwise handled by employees. This shift will not only free up co-workers to enhance the customer experience but also provides IKEA with faster, more precise and accurate stock management. In 2021, IKEA launched an innovative collaboration with Verity, a provider of AI and robotics, to develop a fully autonomous drone solution for its warehouses. The first drone took flight in IKEA Switzerland, and today, more than 250 drones operate across 73 locations, in nine countries. This achievement is a major milestone in IKEA ongoing commitment to innovation and operational excellence. The implementation of 24/7 operational drones is transforming IKEA inventory management, significantly boosting operational efficiency while also enhancing co-worker productivity. The new system enables simultaneous inventory checks, eliminating the need to block aisles and disrupt workflows. Co-workers can take immediate actions based on real-time data from the drones, significantly increasing product accuracy, and decreasing their workload. “Implementing a solution that truly makes a difference in our warehouses is an immensely rewarding experience. The installation process itself is relatively straightforward, and the reward is monumental, as it facilitates collaboration amongst various stakeholders,” said Tommy Niemierowski, Fulfilment Project Implementation Manager, IKEA Belgium. Integrating 24/7 operational drones into IKEA warehouses is not only a great step in inventory management but also a boost for employee well-being. By taking over the physically strenuous task of inventory checks, these drones reduce the ergonomic strain on co-workers, allowing them to focus on lighter and more interesting tasks. A report from The New York Times highlights how warehouse drones help “reduce the repetitive strain and injury risks associated with manual labour in logistics and fulfillment operations,” giving workers a healthier and safer work environment. This shift helps co-workers avoid the physical toll of repetitive tasks, and long hours on their feet, ultimately improving both job satisfaction and long-term health. According to the company, the solution complies with all Data Privacy assessment requirements, including the safety, integrity and privacy of co-workers. After a successful test at the Distribution Centre Winterslag, IKEA is looking to expand the solution further in Europe and North America, starting with the Distribution Centre Perryville, IKEA US, where installation started this summer. Additionally, IKEA is working on upgrading the solution with new functionalities. Future developments include exploring unit loads and rack inspection functionalities, as well as improving the analytics and insights component of the solution.

CASE has expanded its EV toolbox with the commercial release of its 580EV, the industry’s first electric backhoe loader. Marking a new milestone in emissions-free productivity on the jobsite, CASE’s EV backhoe loader will soon be followed by the commercial availability of two additional EV machines — the CX25EV 2.5-metric ton mini excavator and the CL36EV 3.6-metric ton compact wheel loader. Source: Timberbiz The new equipment increases CASE’s EV lineup to five models, including the previously launched CX15EV electric mini excavator and the SL22EV small articulated loader. 

The next generation of EV equipment from CASE offers crews zero-emissions, low-noise solutions for a wide range of unique jobsite demands from overnight construction, to work in urban centres or other close-quarter environments where noise and emissions must be kept to a minimum. The expanded CASE EV offering matches the performance and power of its diesel counterparts while delivering unique advantages like lower fuel costs and less maintenance. “CASE EV offerings are all about unlocking more opportunities for our customers, and we work harder than anyone to give them every tool in the toolbox to succeed on the jobsite,” said Terry Dolan, vice president, North America, CASE Construction Equipment. “With the 580EV electric backhoe loader, we took an industry staple and designed it as a purpose-built EV to help crews meet increasingly unique jobsite demands and win more contracts on projects that prioritize sustainability criteria.” The new CASE 580EV electric backhoe loader carries over the same dimensional loading and digging specifications and delivers the same breakout forces as the popular four-wheel-drive, 97-horsepower CASE 580SN diesel model marking an upgrade in performance since CASE first debuted its Project Zeus electric backhoe concept at CONEXPO in 2020. With this new production unit, CASE took customer feedback and optimized everything from thermal management to operator controls in order to electrify a machine with comparable specs to the widely used 580SN. CASE also included new features, like an 8-inch colour display, air conditioning, a front-dash display and adjustable four-corner, multi-coloured LED strobe lights. Powered by a 400-volt, 71-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery platform that’s charged with the same type of Level 2 J1772 adapter found in automotive EVs, the new electric backhoe loader is designed to deliver up to eight hours of operational run time on a single charge, depending on the application. The battery platform also uses an advanced thermal management system with system-specific cooling circuits to better regulate temperatures and help maintain performance in hot or cold conditions. “Designing this machine from day one as a purpose-built EV instead of a retrofit has enabled a slew of practical innovations that will positively change the mindset for teams considering EV equipment,” said Brad Stemper, product management lead, North America, CASE. “We looked at every aspect of the machine and enhanced power consumption throughout to deliver exceptional EV performance that operators will see and feel when digging, loading or moving dirt.” The four-wheel-drive 580EV uses two independent electric motors for the PowerDrive transmission and hydraulic pumps feeding the loader, backhoe and steering systems to minimize energy consumption and improve performance in loading applications. The 14-foot backhoe also includes an Extendahoe to boost reach, while features like ProControl swing dampening, PowerLift/PowerBoost and electrohydraulic controls improve precision and ease of use on the jobsite. Electrification also provides performance advantages like instantaneous torque response and peak torque at any RPM, so operators don’t need to wait for an internal combustion engine to ramp up to meet load demands. In the cab, CASE takes the same operator-first approach as on other machines, with features like energy-efficient heating and air conditioning, an 8-inch touchscreen display, customizable work mode/sensitivity settings, push-button start and operator security codes. Multi-coloured, four-corner strobe lights also let operators work safely and meet regulatory requirements, with adjustable colours, strobe patterns and an “always-on” feature for low-light conditions when strobes are not needed. In addition to the 580EV electric backhoe, CASE will also make two more EV models commercially available in the coming months. The CASE CX25EV electric mini excavator and the CASE CL36EV electric compact wheel loader will round out the CASE EV lineup for a total of five machines. A bigger, more powerful version of CASE’s existing electric mini excavator, the 2.5-metric ton CX25EV delivers emissions-free performance and manoeuvrability well-suited for urban and infrastructure sites with high traffic. This highly versatile machine includes hydraulic flow settings and up to three auxiliary circuits that can be paired with a variety of quick couplers and attachments. It’s also equipped with electrohydraulic controls and a short-radius design, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. The 3.6-metric ton CASE CL36EV electric compact wheel loader delivers the same power and performance as comparably sized diesel-powered loaders, along with simplified maintenance and lower lifetime total cost of ownership. This versatile machine can be matched with a full range of attachments and features a hinge-pin height of over 10 feet, making it an ideal solution for supply yards, large-scale building renovations or projects where indoor operation is required. With the bolstered EV lineup, CASE brings a bigger range of solutions for unique operating environments that require low noise or no emissions. The new machines complement the CASE portfolio of diesel machines by giving crews more ways to get work done more productively and efficiently while also minimizing carbon footprints. “These new machines set a new benchmark in electrification and sustainable construction, and they’re a testament to our customer-cantered approach to practical innovation as we expand our product portfolio,” said Dolan. “Complementing our diesel lineup, electrification brings real-world solutions to unique jobsite demands, helping urban construction contractors, utility teams, municipal crews and other contractors further improve productivity, efficiency and their bottom line.”

A new dataset is providing a bird’s-eye view of Arkansas’ forests one metre at a time. An Arkansas researcher has developed the first high-resolution forest canopy cover dataset for an entire state, providing valuable insights for forest management and conservation to a major economic sector in Arkansas. Source: The Pine Bluff Commercial “I had this vision of creating something that we can rely on,” said Hamdi Zurqani, assistant professor for the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “No data of this kind existed before for an entire state. Usually, people only create similar data for site-specific projects,” he said. The 1-metre measurements are unique. Until now, the most common forest measurements and datasets have come from satellite imagery at 30-metre spatial resolution, said Zurqani, who conducts research as part of the Arkansas Forest Resources Centre, a partnership between the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and UAM. The experiment station is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture. Forest canopy cover measures the coverage of tree crowns from an aerial view. It shows how much a forest’s uppermost layer of branches, leaves and vegetation forms a continuous cover over the ground. This detailed information is crucial for tracking forest health, as canopy cover is essential for carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat and water regulation. Mr Zurqani said accurate mapping of tree coverage helps scientists monitor and manage forest resources effectively, ensuring the sustainability of these ecosystems. This information can also assist with wildfire risk assessments, tracking forest health threats from pests and climate, and urban planning. Mr Zurqani’s research was published late last year in the academic journal Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. The article was titled “High-resolution forest canopy cover estimation in eco-diverse landscape using machine learning and Google Earth Engine: Validity and reliability assessment.” According to the latest Arkansas Agricultural Profile, forests cover 57% of the state, and timber was one of the state’s top commodities in 2021 with about $409 million in cash farm receipts. To create the Arkansas forest canopy cover dataset, Zurqani used machine learning techniques and the Google Earth Engine. Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence that allows computers to “learn” from data and improve their performance over time without being programmed. Machine learning algorithms identify patterns in data, make predictions and adapt to new information. The Google Earth Engine is a cloud-based platform designed for processing and analyzing large-scale geospatial data. It provides access to a vast repository of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets. Mr Zurqani’s research utilized high-resolution National Agriculture Imagery Program aerial imagery to apply and test his methods. The National Agriculture Imagery Program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, captures high-resolution aerial imagery of agricultural areas during the growing season. The imagery is used for monitoring crop conditions, assessing land use changes and supporting various agricultural and environmental applications. A finer spatial resolution of Arkansas forests provides a more accurate assessment of canopy structure and composition. Mr Zurqani said this precision is essential for monitoring changes in forest dynamics, identifying vulnerable areas and implementing targeted conservation strategies. He hopes his 1-metre dataset could become the new standard for measuring forest canopy cover. “So, in the future, we can use this dataset to cover all forest areas and see which trees healthy and which ones are are diseased,” Mr Zurqani said. “Because it’s high-resolution imagery, we can detect the location of the trees within urban areas.” There are 502 cities and 75 counties in Arkansas, according to the US Census Bureau, and Mr Zurqani said he evaluated forests and tree-covered areas within those cities and counties. While initially focused on the state of Arkansas, he envisions expanding this innovative approach to cover all 50 states. “The studies demonstrate that machine learning and cloud computing technologies can produce reliable, high-resolution forest cover datasets,” Mr Zurqani said. “These methods can be applied to other regions globally, enhancing forest management and conservation efforts worldwide.” To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website https://aaes.uada.edu/  

A farmer has been fined more than $110,000 over the illegal forestry operation that took place on his property south of Cooma. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) took 66-year-old Michael James Green, who owned a farming property called ‘Doolondondale’ in Kybeyan, to the NSW Land and Environment Court before he pleaded guilty to three offences. Source: about regional Justice Nicola Pain said native forestry operations were carried out by contractors in two areas on his property in 2021. At least 8800 tonnes of pulpwood-grade timber and 985 cubic metres of sawlogs were harvested, and the contractors sold the harvested products to timber suppliers. But in December 2021, Green contacted Local Land Services (LLS) and raised concerns about the condition of the harvesting areas after the operations. Dr Julian Wall, who has over 30 years’ experience in natural resource management, said as a result of unauthorised harvesting, basal area and tree retention thresholds were breached and the vegetation had changed to a sparse woodland structure. “A substantial number of larger and older trees appear to have been harvested,” he said. “The small quantity of habitat remaining in the post-harvested forest following the forestry operations would not have been sufficient to support many species of native animals that previously resided in the forest. “In contrast, many of these species would have been able to persist if the unauthorised component of the forestry operations had not been carried out as there would have been enough canopy cover, foraging substrate, food sources, etc, to ensure their ongoing persistence while the forest recovered.” Dr Wall said the operations resulted in a reduction of nesting, breeding and foraging habitat, ground moisture and “the capacity of the forest ecosystem to recover over the long term”. It also resulted in the removal of all mid-storey shrubs and young eucalypts, as well as a 70 to 95 per cent reduction in the canopy cover. Dr Wall said the property was next to Wadbilliga National Park, which was extensively impacted by the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires. This meant it would have been a refuge for animals displaced by the fires. Justice Pain said Green’s offences were “inadvertent” and he had taken responsibility for the impact of his offending conduct on his land. “I find that the actual, likely and potential for harm to the environment caused by the three offences collectively is substantial or likely to be substantial,” she said. “Practical measures could have been taken to avoid the harm caused. “Landowners are legally obliged to ensure that any forestry operations on their land comply with all applicable aspects of the PNF Code [the Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW] and therefore must have in place arrangements which enable oversight of contractors conducting forestry operations on their land to enable them to ensure compliance.” Justice Pain did make note of Mr Green going to LLS with his concerns in December 2021. “Had the defendant not approached LLS with this reliable information, it is unlikely that the offences would have come to the attention of the relevant authorities, including the EPA,” she said. Green pleaded guilty to one count of failing to retain the minimum number of habitat trees and two counts of reducing the stand basal area to a mean below the minimum limit. The two contractors have already pleaded guilty to equivalent charges. On 6 August 2024, Green was convicted, fined a total of $112,500 and ordered to pay the EPA’s legal costs. He was also ordered to stop harvesting and grazing in the two areas for three years, and to begin regenerating the areas.  

Tigercat has announced that an additional Australian factory representative team member, Jake Peters, based in Garfield, Victoria will join the team. Source: Timberbiz “Jake brings with him a deep understanding of forestry machines and the expectations of our industry’s customers. His vast knowledge of forestry products will greatly benefit our team,” Tigercat District Manager Glen Marley said. Mr Peters, along with Mr Marley will be based in Gundagai, NSW, Steve Green is based in Launceston, Tasmania, and Damien Ambrose is based in Tumut, NSW. They will form the Australian product support quartet. A team has been supporting Onetrak and its customer base in Australia for the past 24 years. “I’m looking forward to joining the team supporting Tigercat products, our dealers and customers in Australia,” Mr Peters said.