
Matevz MihelicUniversity of Ljubljana · Biotechnical Faculty
Matevz Mihelic
PhD
About
31
Publications
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247
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Introduction
Additional affiliations
April 2007 - present
Publications
Publications (31)
The production of wood chips can be achieved using different types of wood chippers whose productivity can be influenced by many factors including proper knife management. Research was conducted to determine the productivity of the new Diamant chipper in chipping air-dried tops stacked at a roadside landing and to compare the efficiency of dry shar...
Yarding whole trees is the most efficient way of extracting timber in steep terrain and allows reaping the combined benefits of mechanization and biomass recovery. In downhill yarding, however, whole-tree extraction is associated with a greater risk of loosening rocks or debris by the incoming loads as they bounce around along the extraction corrid...
The study characterizes the types of forest interventions conducted on small-scale (< 2 ha) forests by 7 crews managed by the Forest Service in Verona, Italy, with the purpose of restoring degraded forests. Data were obtained from the operational records of these crews over 17 years across 340 worksites, and were used to determine operational perfo...
The study compared the cut-to-length (CTL) and the whole-tree-harvesting (WTH) methods under two alternative log length specifications (2 m vs. 4 m) as deployed in the new medium-rotation poplar plantations. The goal of this study was to determine if any of the four combinations of harvesting method and log length incurred lower cost and/or better...
Underdeveloped tree crops (⩽ 30 bone-dry tons ha⁻¹) offer a main harvest of biomass-trees, which lack the size and the form for producing a log. However, about 1/3 of the available stems may yield at least one log, which could significantly increase the overall value of the harvest. Under those circumstances, it may make sense to sort log-trees fro...
The Authors conducted a long-term follow-up study of a John Deere 1490 forwarder-mounted bundler owned by a Portuguese company and used for bundling logging residues from fast-growing eucalypt plantations located in Portugal and Spain. The study spanned 7 years, from 2011 to 2016. During this time, the machine clocked over 11,500 h and produced mor...
Generally applicable and professionally applied criteria for acceptable soil damage after forest operations are a prerequisite for efficient forest soil protection and objective control of the quality of forest operations. This research took the form of a survey conducted among forestry experts to examine the acceptability of the criteria proposed...
In the article we determine the suitability of the phytocenose as a basic unit for determining soil susceptibility to mechanized logging. A total of 90 measurements of skid trail profiles were taken on a 13.9 km long sample transect. The forest infrastructure studied was categorized into primary and secondary skid trails, trails intended for CTL ha...
Slope of the terrain, combined with the physical characteristics of the machines, has a potential impact on the damage to forest soil during forest operations. In our research, we have determined the impact of the slope of the skid and harvester trail on the depth of the ruts based on measurements on two objects and the data analysis of the iFOS pr...
Recently, electrical cordless chainsaws were introduced, which provide less harmful working conditions for the operators, and should therefore be deployed as much as possible in all non-professional and professional applications. The low power of the electric engines may result in lower efficiency and higher energy consumption in the case of over-t...
In recent years, industrial roundwood production has enjoyed a steady success due to the development of a new bioeconomy and the rapid structural changes of the wood market. A very promising new solution for industrial fiber crops is the integrated production of logs and biomass in short rotation poplar plantations. In Europe, the expansion of thes...
Considering soil types and their characteristics in forest operation is crucial for achieving its environmental viability and sustainable forest management. Soil type and soil water content are the main factors affecting ground bearing capacity and thus determining trafficability and damage to soil, particularly rutting. The aim of this research wa...
We tested multi-tree handling for the two main harvesting methods, and namely: whole-tree harvesting (WTH) and cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting. In particular, multi-tree WTH was tested in Italy, while multi-tree CTL was tested in Poland. Furthermore, a simplified multi-tree CTL system was also tested in order to provide a low-investment alternative...
See full text: http://dirros.openscience.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=9312&lang=slv
English: Protection and conservation of forest soil is an important criterion for sustainable forest management. Forest soil with high production capacity enables numerous effects and ensures undisturbed functioning of forest ecosystem. Since human activities during fore...
In the Alps, forests are generally multi-functional, and they are classed according to their primary role as production, protection or recreation forests. The dominance of one of these roles does not exclude all the others, although it shapes management, which must reflect the primary role of each forest. That is also the case of protection forests...
Since the electric tools are increasingly entering the field of forestry, the aim of this study was to establish the consequences of using electric powered chainsaws on work and its energy efficiency, as well as health of workers. For this purpose, 40 trees were felled in two young spruce stands, half with a cordless electric chainsaw and one half...
Industrial chipping is becoming increasingly popular, as the result of a growing demand for woody biomass. Industrial chippers are large, powerful machines that generate much noise and vibration. This study explored some factors that may affect exposure to noise and vibration, namely: feedstock type (branches vs. logs), work station characteristics...
Although soils are the key component for sustainable development, soil degradation in EU member states continues to increase. Forest soils are not excluded and are particularly vulnerable to degradation processes, the more so after natural disasters and intensive use of modern technologies. Compaction is the most common consequence of such uses. Th...
A study was conducted on chip production from logging residue left after a cable yarder operation. The logistics were managed with tractor and trailer units (shuttles). The study specifically dealt with a very difficult case of space constrained operations, further expanding the knowledge about chip supply in extreme work conditions. The focus of t...
As one of the major parts of the chainsaw, the cutting chain has an important impact on productivity and health risk in motor-manual harvesting. The efficiency of cross cutting and quantity of sawdust produced in relation to different cutting chain settings, chain producers and wood species has been measured. The trial was set up to include two tre...
Coppice is a traditional form of forest management widely practiced in Europe since ancient times. This COST Action FP1301 EuroCoppice report gives an overview about the most important coopice products in Europe.
Productivity (m3/effective machine hour) in mechanized extraction of firewood, logs, stems or whole trees from traditional coppice forests (Quercus species, beech and chestnut) has been analyzed using data from 128 studies performed between 1973 and 2015 in Italy (99), Spain (24) and the U.K. (5). Significant differences among clearcut and selectiv...
Key message: Coppice harvesting technology is evolving toward increased mechanization and larger more efficient equipment. Nevertheless, cheap and versatile general-purpose machines (excavators and farm tractors) still represent the backbone of coppice mechanization, which is consistent with the rural character of coppice economy. Context: Operatin...
A new chipper was designed around a versatile wheeled carrier, capable of both in-field and road traffic. This solution reduces relocation cost, and it is especially valuable when dealing with small, scattered fields. At the same time, good off-road mobility allows taking a large industrial operation directly into the field, to the benefit of impro...
An increasing number of agricultural contractors are getting into industrial wood chipping, following the rapid expansion of fiber farms on ex-arable land. Wood chippers are noisy machines and agricultural contractors tend to work long hours, which raises the question about their exposure to noise. The objective of the study was to quantify noise e...
Designing of forest roads is very important in the management of forests and forest resources. Designing Forest Road consists of two subphases. First, field subphases understood collection of all field data, which are necessary for the construction project of forest roads. Second, office subphases composed of input data from field izmjeromu program...
Mechanized felling was introduced in Slovenia at the beginning of this decade, and before that Slovenian forestry relied on motor manual felling and tractor skidding or cable crane yarding. In this research we are dealing with wood forwarding. Model skidding maps were built, using terrain classification and decision support systems for forwarders a...
Questions
Question (1)
I would like to ask if anyone is aware of any models, research or practical guidelines on the effects of snow or frozen soil on driving of machines on natural soils. In effect- how much, and what type of snow (frozen soil) has to be present on the ground in order for machines to drive without major damages to soils.