This presentation, of a recently published FWPA funded study, investigated the reduction in the costs in the supply chain by controlling moisture content of logs and chips (including woody biomass) through infield drying prior to transport (project PNC336-1314).
Log drying data was collected from small log piles (5-8 tonnes) of E. globulus chip logs, and P. radiata chip and residue logs stored at the WAPRES Diamond mill in Manjimup, Western Australia for two periods in 2014.
Small numbers of individual logs were also stored to compare the moisture content of individual logs to that of the log piles. A Hitman HM200 was used to test log pile logs and individual logs to test its possible use as a tool to estimate log pile moisture content.
The outcomes of the project were:
1) models to predict the moisture content of stacks of radiata pine or blue gum logs stored at roadside using meteorological data and acoustic velocity; and
2) a software application incorporating the models to distribute the project results to industry.
This project was the initial step in the research required to enable the Australia forest industry to gain the benefits from infield log drying while minimising potential issues.
Martin Strandgard is a Senior Research Fellow, AFORA, with the Forest Industries Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
