Forest Products Industry

Researchers at the University of Helsinki are developing machine learning methods enabling the harvester to assist the operator in choosing routes that are optimal for both harvesting and nature. The machine could then predict the relevant terrain characteristics even before the actual operation.  Source: Forest.fi “This information will help to optimize the route and assist the operator by telling, for example, where the ground is too soft,” says Professor Jukka Heikkonen, in charge of the project funded by the Research Council of Finland. “Harvesting operations must be planned so as not to leave too invasive strip roads. The softer the ground, the more difficult it is for the harvester to travel and the more likely it will cause ground damage,” Heikkonen notes. Strip roads, or the tracks left by the harvester, are detrimental to forest growth, increase the risk of diseases and are an eyesore. Travelling across soft ground also increases the rolling resistance and therefore, the fuel consumption and cost. “The softer the ground, the more probably it will be damaged. The physical quantity used in the study is the rolling resistance factor of the harvester, which describes the ease of travel on a particular stretch of ground,” Heikkonen says. According to the Finnish Forest Act, only one fifth of the length of a strip road created to reach a harvesting site may be over ten centimetres in depth. For peatlands, the corresponding depth is twenty centimetres. Using the figure for ease of travel and the harvester’s rolling resistance, it is possible to create a map showing the conditions most suitable for the strip roads. The map may be used to position the route of forwarders and to schedule the operation. Measurements of damage caused by strip roads may be combined with open-source forest data and harvester data. This will allow predictions of future damage from the strip roads in a harvesting operation. The predictions and modelling make use of machine learning, which is capable of combining open-source masses of data, measurement data from harvester sensors and physical models of the terrain. Combining measurements of strip road damage with open-source forest data and harvester data makes it possible to predict the degree of damage even before the operation. Moist ground increases resistance Research results show that the rolling resistance of the harvester is greatest in depressions and on loamy soils. Moist soils increase the resistance. Moistness, in turn, is affected by weather conditions, as well as rain, evaporation and the presence of meltwater. Data for the research was collected from actual forestry operations in southern Finland. Identifiers linked to geospatial data describing moistness and soil type indicate the ease of travel on a particular site. ’Using the soil moistness and the harvester’s rolling resistance data, it is possible to create a forest hydrology model for anywhere in Finland. The terrain data gathered by the harvester is generalized to cover other, corresponding terrains. This also makes use of forest resources data, among other things,’ says Heikkonen. The aim is to plan harvesting operations with the knowledge of ’where to go and when’. Knowing this would not only help the people planning the harvesting, but also the practical work of the harvester operator. The objective is to achieve an automatic route planning, which will serve as a basis for autonomous harvesters. Factors affecting the ease of travel include the load-bearing capacity of the soil, the steepness of slopes and areas where the harvester may not enter. Other important factors include type of terrain, vegetation, climate, weather, ground-level moistness and the machinery used in harvesting. Heikkonen points out that once an operation has been scheduled, it must be implemented despite cold, rain, fog or rocky terrain. “For the harvester, forest is a challenging environment,” Heikkonen said.  

Stora Enso has teamed up with Enkei, providing recyclable packaging materials to protect their sustainable design pieces, made from discarded materials. Source: Timberbiz Swedish startup Enkei needed to find a smart and sustainable packaging solution to protect handcrafted designer table lamps without compromising on sustainability, safety or aesthetics. Packed and protected in a combination of corrugated board and the cushioning material Papira by Stora Enso – both materials made by Stora Enso – the lamps can now safely make their way to customers all over the world. “We have extremely high requirements when it comes to sustainability. At the same time, we strive to make the sustainable alternative attractive, and that is why high-quality design is so important to us. We wanted to find a packaging solution that safely protected the lamp, was aesthetically pleasing, and left a low climate footprint,” said Lovisa Sunnerholm, CEO at Enkei. Papira is a bio-based and biodegradable foam made of wood fibres that are sourced from sustainably managed forests. It is fully recyclable within standard paper and board recycling and has high shock-absorbing qualities, ensuring superior protection for delicate items like the Reminder lamp. Stora Enso believes that everything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Working with sustainable initiatives like Enkei is perfect for Stora Enso as we are working on scaling Papira from pilot to industrial production. There is much to learn from other pioneers, and we need this kind of collaboration for our iterative process. “Collaboration is such an important part of our innovation process. We can only replace fossil-based materials and establish Papira on the market if we offer solutions that our customers need and want. With collaborations like this, we can prove that our product fulfills customer requirements. And then of course, one gets a lot of energy and inspiration from collaborating with other parties,” said Julia Broszat, Solutions Development Specialist at Stora Enso.  

Dryad Networks, a pioneer in wildfire detection technology, has announced the general availability of its third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways, which include new features for optimal ultra-early wildfire detection and forest management. Source: Timberbiz The significant improvements include industry-first direct-to-satellite connectivity, extended LoRa radio range, easy installation thanks to a new mounting bracket and ruggedized, weather-resistant design with IP67 waterproof rating. Dryad Networks is the first in the wildfire detection and forest management industry to offer built-in direct-to-satellite connectivity in its gateways, enabling reliable communication in even the most remote forest areas. This system reduces reliance on terrestrial networks, offering real-time monitoring and bi-directional communication, including remote configuration and firmware updates. By including direct-to-satellite connectivity in mesh gateways in addition to border gateways, Dryad adds an extra layer of redundancy resulting in unparalleled network reliability, enabling fallback to satellite connectivity in case of a loss of terrestrial connectivity. Other enhancements include improved reliability and extended network coverage, making the third-generation gateways ideal for large-scale deployments in challenging environments with maintenance-free operation of 10 to 15 years. The Silvanet Border Gateway is placed at the border of a target forest area, and the Silvanet Mesh Gateway extends network coverage into the depth of the forest using a unique multi-hop mesh networking architecture. The gateways are the core of Dryad Networks’ Silvanet Suite solution for wildfire detection and forest management, providing a robust communications network for the Silvanet Wildfire Sensors and additional sensors currently under development. “At Dryad Networks, our mission is to protect the world’s forests by developing innovative and scalable solutions for wildfire detection and forest management. Our third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways represent a significant leap forward in achieving this goal, offering unmatched reliability, network performance, coverage and ease of use. The upgrades reflect our commitment to continuously advancing our technology to meet the evolving needs of our partners and end users,” said Dryad Networks Chief Executive Officer Carsten Brinkschulte. “The introduction of direct-to-satellite connectivity and extended LoRa range in our new gateways marks a pivotal advancement in wildfire detection technology. These features ensure that even the most remote and challenging environments can be monitored in real time, without reliance on terrestrial networks. This technological breakthrough sets a new standard in the industry,” said Dryad Networks Chief Technology Officer Pedro Silva. The enhancements in Dryad Networks’ third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways improve connectivity, energy management, damage and water resistance and ease of installation. Built-in satellite communication in North America and Europe, in partnership with EchoStar Corporation, a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Onboard satellite communication helps especially in areas where there is no terrestrial communication infrastructure. It also provides redundancy to 4G network communication; if gateways cannot connect over 4G, they instead can use the direct-to-satellite connection. Embedded SIM card: A built-in embedded SIM card (NB-IOT / LTE-M) with multi IMSI provides global out-of-the-box mobile network connectivity. External SIM card slot: An easily accessible, user-serviceable SIM card slot enables replacement of the built-in embedded SIM card with a local SIM for optimized local connectivity. Extended LoRaWAN (long range wide area network) range enables the third-generation gateways to communicate over longer distances, up to 10 kilometers (6 miles), reducing the number of gateways required per deployment. Dual solar panels: The third-generation border gateways include two solar panels, doubling the energy available to the most critical elements in the Silvanet system. Thirty percent more energy storage than the second-generation gateways: An increased number of super capacitors in the third-generation gateways provides more energy storage in the solar-powered gateways and helps ensure continual operation especially in difficult lighting conditions and shaded environments. No external antennas: The fully integrated PCB (printed circuit board) antenna design with no external antennas improves reliability and eliminates a weak point of other gateway designs. A single rigid-flex PCB for maximum durability: The advanced rigid-flex PCB design eliminates any internal connectors and cables, further improving reliability and longevity of the devices in challenging environmental conditions. IP67 waterproof rating and ruggedized design ensure that the third-generation gateways can withstand harsh environmental conditions, making them highly reliable even in the most challenging climates. This durability significantly extends their lifecycle and eliminates maintenance, which is a critical consideration for long-term deployments. New mounting system: The third-generation gateways can be installed 50% faster than second-generation gateways, due to a new mounting bracket and locking system which is used to attach the gateways to trees or poles. This solution is substantially faster and easier to install and improves radio connectivity. Built-in near-field communication (NFC) interface for local configuration and testing: The NFC interface is especially helpful in areas where there is no communication infrastructure that may prevent or impede installation or maintenance communication between a gateway and the Silvanet Cloud Platform. Technicians can access the gateway configuration and testing controls at the gateway site with an NFC-enabled device such as a smartphone, with no need to scan QR codes during installation and maintenance. The third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways are available immediately from Dryad Networks and from its growing network of reseller partners. For sales inquiries, visit https://www.dryad.net/contact.