measuring machine productivity with a multi-dat data ... 05.pdf · measuring machine productivity...

Loren KelloggChad Davis Chad Bolding

Oregon State UniversityDepartment of Forest Engineering

Measuring Machine Productivity with a Multi-Dat Data Logger:

A Demonstration on Three Forest Machines

Outline of Presentation

Introduction and background on Multi-dat data logger

Study overviewMulti-dat applications (3 machines)Forest fuels reduction and biomass utilization research

Research applications & resultsContractor applications & resultsConclusions

What is the Multi-Dat?

A data logger for recording productive machine time by using an internal motion sensor to detect machine vibration

Productive time can be broken out by activity --- operator input or electronic signals

Equipped with GPS to map machine travel

Developed by FERIC; manufactured by GENEQ, Inc.

Purpose of Study

Forest Contractor ApplicationsNeed for accurate machine productivity and

delay information to improve project economics

GPS technology for tracking machine travel

Research ApplicationsShift level equipment productivity & utilization

Detailed equipment cycle data

How the Multi-Dat Works? Internal motion sensor

and/or electric sensors monitor machine motion & productivity

User Input #1: Threshold value configured to ignore a certain level of machine movement

User Input #2: Maximum Time Interval delineates operational delays from incidental pauses or data logger sensitivity

Overview of Studies

Multi-Dat installed on 3 different forest machinesRubber-tired grapple skidder

Excavator base masticator

Cable yarder

Cable yarder & masticator used motion sensor; skidder required operator input

All studies relied on operator input of stop code

Forest Fuels Reduction; Biomass Utilization and Energy Production Research Needs

Harvesting Harvesting EconomicsEconomics

Soil DisturbanceSoil Disturbance EffectivenessEffectiveness

Information Gaps and ResearchQuestions?

Forest Fuels Reduction; Biomass Utilization and Energy Production Research

Sample Research Questions:

What are the economic differences related to the size and type of biomass harvested?

What should the size and distribution of residual biomass be on-site from a fire hazard reduction effectiveness perspective?


What are the long-term soil compaction affects on forest soils from ground-based fuels reduction operations?

What are the most cost effective harvesting and transport technologies for harvesting and delivering small logs and forest fuels for energy production ---gentle terrain ---- steep terrain ---wildland areas ---- wildland-urban interface?


What is the forest biomass availability for supplying energy production facilities?

What opportunities are there to minimize diesel fuel usage in supplying biomass energy facilities?

What are the employment creation opportunities with small log harvesting and forest biomass energy?


Soil DisturbanceSoil Disturbance EffectivenessEffectiveness

An Integrated Study of Mechanical Forest Fuels Reduction

Commercial StudyCommercial Study

Southwest OR Southwest OR ―― Boise Boise Cascade, Inc.Cascade, Inc.

2020--acre mixed conifer acre mixed conifer standstandSlopes <12%Slopes <12%

Equipment ConfigurationEquipment ConfigurationTracked swingTracked swing--boom boom fellerfeller--buncherbuncherRubberRubber--tired skidderstired skiddersProcessorProcessorLoaderLoaderInIn--woods chipperwoods chipper

NonNon--commercial Studiescommercial StudiesCentral Oregon Central Oregon ―― Confederated Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribes of Warm Springs

Two stands:Two stands:Biddle PassBiddle PassTeninoTenino

Equipment configurationsEquipment configurationsFlexible track skidding Flexible track skidding machine with a front machine with a front mounted mulching headmounted mulching headSwingSwing--boom excavator with boom excavator with a rotary disk mulching a rotary disk mulching headhead

Methods & Data CollectionMethods & Data CollectionSoil characteristicsSoil characteristics

Pre and postPre and post--treatmenttreatment

Soil strengthSoil strength

Recording soil penetrometerRecording soil penetrometer

2525--mm intervals from 25mm intervals from 25--400 mm400 mm

Visual disturbanceVisual disturbance

Recorded by one of 12 codes using the Recorded by one of 12 codes using the point transect methodpoint transect method

Soil DisturbanceSoil Disturbance

Methods & Data CollectionMethods & Data CollectionShiftShift--level studieslevel studies

Delays >5Delays >5--min were recorded by min were recorded by each operatoreach operator

Detailed time & motion studiesDetailed time & motion studiesVideotaping was used to determine Videotaping was used to determine the time spent performing each the time spent performing each function of the operationfunction of the operation


Methods & Data CollectionMethods & Data CollectionPre and postPre and post--treatmenttreatment

Standing tree informationStanding tree informationDBH, HLC, TH, StatusDBH, HLC, TH, Status

Understory shrub percent coverUnderstory shrub percent cover

Downed woody fuel compositionDowned woody fuel composition11--hr, 10hr, 10--hr, 100hr, 100--hr, & 100hr, & 100--hr fuel hr fuel categoriescategories

Modeling with FFEModeling with FFE--FVSFVS

EffectivenessEffectiveness

Visual Results Visual Results -- 11

Back to the Multi-Dat…….Rubber-Tired Skidder

Research Applications

Cat 518 completing a commercial fuels reduction & thinning operation

Operator input of activity and delay codes

Activity Codes: Outhaul, Grapple, Inhaul, Decking, Cleaning, Other

Delay Codes: System Interferences,

Mechanical, Maintenance,

Personal, Research, Other

Skidder Study Results

Portions of 2 shifts; 12 hours total

Skidder productive time = 77% of scheduled hours

Average productive skid cycle time over 137 turns was 4 minutes

Delays added 1.11 minutes per skidding cycle

Equipment interference at the landing was the largest delay category (10% of scheduled hours)

Skidder Results Continued

Masticator Study Results

Study duration = 8 days; 75 hours

Productive time = 65% of scheduled hours

Delay times (% scheduled):Equipment delays = 13.7%People delays = 3.3%No Response = 9.7%End Day = 7.4%

Masticator Study Results:Daily Productivity & Delay Times

Daily Percentages of Time for AFE Masticator

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Motion SensorEquip Delays

Masticator Study Results: GPS capabilities

Track log for masticator on 11/12/2004

Contractor Application: Cable Yarding

Standing skyline, shotgun system

Diamond 210 swing yarder and Acme slack pulling carriage

Commercial thinning US Forest Service timber sale east of Sweet Home, OR

Average yarding distance = 350 ft. (range 200 – 1000 ft.)

6 crew members

Cable Yarding Study Results

53 hours observed over 6 days

Average productive time = 52 % of scheduled hours (range 42% - 65 %)

Average cable road time = 27% of scheduled hours (range 7% - 44%)

Average equipment interference time = 16% of scheduled hours (range 5% - 26%)

Conclusions on Multi-Dat Data Logger Trials

Research Applications

Design features limit the applicability in equipment productivity and system cost efficiency studies

Capable of providing shift level information on equipment productivity and delays

Number of turns and logs per turn not easily gathered in shift level studies

The sensor methodology ALONE does not easily provide detail time study information

Cycle element times are recorded to the nearest minute


Contractor Applications


Contractor Applications

Provides an excellent tool for contractors to easily gather equipment productivity information over a range of conditions

Allows contractors to examine results generally followed by focusing on areas of continual improvements

Multi-Dat software package is easy to understand and flexible for different applications

Data collection should be designed to minimize burden on equipment applications

GPS tracking function provides equipment location information that can be overlain on unit maps

Thanks For Your Attention!Thanks For Your Attention!

measuring machine productivity with a multi-dat data ... 05.pdf · measuring machine productivity...

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