Manual measurements are hard to control and verifying those measurements is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Still, the process of adopting new technologies to replace manual measurement is slow. In addition to the obvious positive aspects (speed, accuracy, digital data), there are also some other advantages of using the new photo-optical timber measurement.
Healthier work environment
Fieldwork in open areas is always subject to different weather conditions. By using photo-optical solutions for field measurements, workers minimize the measurement time of each pile, making work faster and more effective. In addition, in the regions of extreme climates – such as for workers in remote areas of the planet who need to perform measurements in winters below -20ºC or those in tropical
climates, whose summers exceed 40ºC, a simple photo taken with the aid of our solution will take only 10% of the time that would be used in a manual measurement, plus the fact that there is the possibility of just taking a photo from the stack and performing the measurement in an enclosed location such as an office.
One of the most reported issues by log measurers at the field is related to repetitive strain injuries (RSI), since a single movement, performed countless times, is necessary for manual measurement – with arms and hands being stretched repetitively for measuring the diameters and the volume of the stacks. These injuries also involve bursitis and synovitis, which require specific treatment and take time to be fully recovered. By using photo-optical timber measurement as a preferred method, the log-by-log "measuring"
movement ceases to exist due to the artificial intelligence system that performs the measurement of the stack at once only in 3 minutes and doesn't require human intervention directly on the pile.
Increased employee safety
One other issue presented by forest workers is related to direct contact with woodpiles, which can cause two distinct problems: the risk of falls and venomous animals. Firstly, it is not completely safe for the measurer to be at a very small distance from the stack, as imbalances in it can occur, causing crushing and fatal accidents. In addition, it is well known that areas with an abundance of wood are the natural habitat of several species of animals, fungi, and mosses. Workers in tropical areas who perform eucalyptus measurements, for example, are subject to unexpected encounters with scorpions, who prefer to lodge among logs – this is a situation of the extreme risk that can be very easily avoided if the worker makes measurements further from the piles.
Increased customer satisfaction
Transparent and objective timber trade benefits both sides as less time is spent on arguing and, even in case of disagreement, there's always clear digital proof available. Both sides have access to data and control everything happening in the "other side."
Larger picture
The volume of illegal logging and unfair trade in timber industry is extraordinarily high. By reports from the World Bank, illegal logging activity is estimated to cost developing countries $5 billion per year in lost timber revenues to governments alone. It is all due to the fact that there's simply no transparency and ability to control and monitor the harvesting areas. The main reason behind that has been the high human intervention and lack of control tools. The photo-optical timber measurement enables sustainable forest management: each and every transaction/measurement has a digital proof, meaning that all the
measurements are done in an objective way based on AI-detection: therefore, there cannot be any more cheating or corruption, since tracking will always be provided to interest parts, such as law enforcement agencies. Human intervention is minimized and there's always the possibility to control (Police, Ministry of Environment, for example).
New technologies are also required to provide needed data for the governments to monitor and control the timber exports, making sure that there's no timber cut from protected areas or any endangered species being cut.
Conclusions
The technological world is developing rapidly, and this also demands the quicker reactions from the existing market players and regulators. Similarly to Uber and Bolt, which have disrupted the traditional taxi business and become ahead of current regulations, new technologies are demanding for the new rules in timber sector. Everything that enables more transparency, fair trade and reduction of the manual labor helps to increase the position and possibility to negotiate the private forest owner. Unfortunately, the voice of the private forest owners is still very weak, compared to the companies. Also, the committees and organizations dealing with timber measurement usually have representatives of the companies, not the private forest owners organizations. Therefore, it is not in their interest to change the status quo position and rather present barriers and requirements that block the new technologies coming to the market.
References
Fonseca, M.A. 2005. The measurement of roundwood: methodologies and conversion ratios. CABI Publishing, CAB International.
Harsh C. and O’Kelly G. 2018. Precision forestry: A revolution in the woods.
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-and-forest-products/our-insights/precision-forestry-a-revolution-in-the-woods. Accessed 8.07.2019.