FOR 261 Forest Harvesting is an in depth study of timber harvest systems and supporting technologies including: harvest planning, mapping and GIS analysis, environmental impacts, field engineering considerations and system costing. The course is designed to reinforce foundational skills such as field note taking, measurements and safety. Theoretical emphasis will be given to the phases of timber harvest and the potential role of ground, cable and aerial based harvest systems as well as log transport systems. Health and safety issues surrounding timber harvesting operations will be explored. Through two projects integrated with other courses, project management elements will be learned in an applied setting.
Prerequisites: FOR 260 Note: Pre-requisite(s) may be waived with the permission of the Instructor.
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | 3.00 |
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| Total Hours | 90 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 2 |
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| Lab (lab, field, computer) | 4 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- evaluate a site for timber harvest potential based on slope, timber volume and quality, soil susceptibility and terrain stability as well as match a harvesting system with a silvicultural system in order to meet forest management objectives;
- analyze and quantify cost trade-offs between road construction, multiple options of harvest systems. As well as a variety of site and stand factors, management strategies on the cost and productivity of a harvesting system;
- prescribe safe timber harvest methods that minimize potential environmental impacts while maximizing harvest productivity, log product recovery, and timber development planning from and the student will be able to organize related mapped data and prepare to safely conduct an efficient day of field work related to timber harvesting unit layout. Health and Safety planning and hazard assessment will be emphasized;
- evaluate and document a given site in the field for its harvest potential. They will be able to take accurate field measurements along with clear, concise field notes;
- use and maintain manual and digital equipment involved in harvest unit layout;
- document a site harvest plan in the form of maps and tables, detailing equipment, environmental risk mitigation strategies and harvest cost for a given site, covering all phases of a harvest operation;
- describe and apply project management elements such as task and duration definition, accountability and scheduling; and
- will be evaluated on their ability to work professionally in the presence of other environmental professionals and their peers. Performing tasks safely and efficiently while organising themselves in terms of project oversight, scheduling, and contingency related to project field work.
Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.