Method and system configured to manage a tree harvesting process

• US 20040250908A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hicks, Keith B.
• Application Number:
  US10/324,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 144/335
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/00 Forestry

Abstract

A method and system configured to monitor a tree harvesting process is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing a plurality of characteristics of a tree harvesting process associated with a first location, delivering the plurality of characteristics to a second location, and monitoring the tree harvesting process in response to the plurality of characteristics

Claims

1. A method of managing a tree harvesting process, comprising the steps of:

establishing a plurality of characteristics of said tree harvesting process at a first location;

delivering said plurality of characteristics to a second location;

managing said tree harvest process in response to said plurality of characteristics.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics further comprises the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics of a tree cutting phase of said tree harvesting process, said characteristics being established by a first piece of equipment.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics further comprises the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics of a tree relocation phase of said tree harvesting process.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics further comprises the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics of a tree transportation phase of said tree harvesting process.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics further comprises the step of establishing said plurality of characteristics of a central management phase of said tree harvesting process.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of relaying said plurality of characteristics to a second location further comprises the step of relaying said plurality of characteristics to a second piece of equipment located at said second location.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step of relaying said plurality of characteristics to said second location further comprises the step of relaying said plurality of characteristics to said second piece of equipment located at said second location and performing one of said tree cutting phase, said tree relocation phase, and said tree transportation phase.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of characteristics includes at least two of a tree diameter, number of trees cut, number of trees relocated, number of trees transported, species of tree cut, species of tree relocated, species of tree transported, density of tree cut, density of tree relocated, density of tree transported, moisture content of tree cut, moisture content of tree relocated, moisture content of tree transported, stump height of tree cut, wheel slip characteristic in harvesting process, hour meter of at least one of said first equipment and said second equipment, location of said cut tree, location of said tree relocation, number of cut trees located in a group, weight of, tree cut, weight of tree relocated, weight of tree transported, weight of trees cut, weight of trees relocated, weight of trees transported, number of lost trees, location of lost trees, number of relocating trips, number of transportation trips, number of trucks loaded, bucked length of trees transported.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising delivering a harvest segmentation to said first location from said second location.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said harvest segmentation is determined based upon at least one of a number of available machines, a number of access path, a total size of a harvest area, and a location of a tree transportation location.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a tree transportation region is established in response to at least one of a topography, a location of trees to be harvested, a type of transportation medium to be used, and a location of said transportation to be used.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of managing said harvest process further comprises the step of establishing a work assignment in response to said plurality of tree harvesting characteristics.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of delivering said work assignment to a third location.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of managing said tree harvest process includes at least one of determining a productivity characteristic of said tree harvest process, determining a work flow of said process, determining an environmental characteristic, determining a work load distribution, and coordinating with multiple machines, in response to said tree harvest characteristics.

15. A method of harvesting a tree comprising the steps of:

cutting down at least one tree;

relocating said at least one cut tree;

transporting said at least one cut tree;

establishing a plurality of characteristics at a first location associated with at least one of said tree cutting, said tree relocating, and said tree transporting; and

relaying said plurality of established characteristics to a second location.

16. A method of harvesting a tree, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said second location is associated with one of said tree cutting, said tree relocating, said tree transporting, and a central data facility.

17. A system configured to manage a tree harvesting process, comprising:

a local harvest monitoring system configured to establish a plurality of tree harvesting characteristics associated with said tree harvesting process and responsively generate a signal, said signal being indicative of at least a portion of said tree harvesting characteristics; and

a remote data facility configured to receive said signal and manage said tree harvest process in response to said tree harvesting characteristics.

18. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said local harvest monitoring system further comprises:

at least one sensing device configured to sense information, and responsively generate an information signal;

a controller configured to receive said sensed signal, establish a plurality of tree harvesting characteristics in response to said sensed signal, and deliver at least a portion of said tree harvesting characteristics to a mobile communicator; and

said mobile communicator responsively configured to receive said tree harvest characteristics and responsively deliver a signal indicative of said tree harvest characteristics to said remote data facility.

19. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said tree harvesting characterstics are associated with a tree cutting phase of said tree harvesting process.

20. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said tree harvesting characteristics are associated with a tree relocation phase of said tree harvesting process.

21. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said tree harvesting characteristics are associated with a tree transportation phase of said tree harvesting process.

22. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said tree harvesting characteristics are associated with a tree processing phase.

23. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said tree harvesting characteristics are associated with a tree grouping phase.

24. A system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said plurality of tree harvesting characteristics includes at least two of a a tree diameter, number of trees cut, number of trees relocated, number of trees transported, species of tree cut, species of tree relocated, species of tree transported, density of tree cut, density of tree relocated, density of tree transported, moisture content of tree cut, moisture content of tree relocated, moisture content of tree transported, stump height of tree cut, wheel slip characteristic in harvesting process, hour meter of at least one of said first equipment and said second equipment, location of said cut tree, location of said tree relocation, number of cut trees located in a group, weight of, tree cut, weight of tree relocated, weight of tree transported, weight of trees cut, weight of trees relocated, weight of trees transported, number of lost trees, location of lost trees, number of relocating trips, number of transportation trips, number of trucks loaded, bucked length of trees transported